No Light to Die By

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ADocSavageAdventurebyKennethRobesonOriginallypublishedinDocSavageMagazineJune1947

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5CABLEGRAM

ROBESON,NEWYORK

DISAPPROVEOFTHEIDEA.SORRY.

ROBESON,NEWYORK

SAVAGE

THAT’SWHATIWASAFRAIDOF.I’LL

WRITESAMMY.

SAVAGE.

CABLEGRAM

SAVAGE,LONDON

MEMOFROMTHEDESKOFDOCSAV-SAMMYISBULLHEADEDABOUTTHIS.

AGE:

HEISGOINGTOPUBLISHMANU-To:SammyWales.

SCRIPT.WON’TLISTENTOME.SAYS

SCRIPT.WON’TLISTENTOME.SAYS

Mr.KennethRobeson,theauthor,advisesmeHENEEDSTHEMONEY.

thatyouhavewrittenafirst-personaccountROBESON.

ofarecentadventurewhichbroughtyouincontactwithmyselfandmygroupofaides.

HestatesthatyouintendseekingapublisherROBESON,NEWYORK

forthismanuscript,andthatyouhavere-BUYTHEMANUSCRIPTOFFHIM.

fusedtosellittohim.Idisapproveofthis.ItBURNIT.

istruethatKennethRobesonhaswrittenaSAVAGE.

hundredandsixty-eightnovelsaroundtheadventuresofourgroup,butthesewerefic-tionizedversionsandinnowayhamperedSAVAGE,LONDON

ourwork.Itisnotsatisfactorytometoper-mitpublicationofanaccountwrittenbyanSAMMYWONTSELL.SAYSTHEPUB-unskilledoutsider.IhopeyouwilldroptheLICSHOULDKNOWTHETRUTH

ABOUTDOCSAVAGE.

matter.

SAVAGE.

ROBESON.

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RADIOGRAM

SAVAGE,SHANGHAIRADIOGRAM

SAMMYFEELSTRUTHABOUTYOU

SAVAGE,PARIS

SHOULDREKNOWN.SEEMSSINCERE.

WHO’SUNSKILLED?ANDWHOISAN

SAYSITWILLSCARESOMEPEOPLE

OUTSIDER?IWASTHEREWASN’TI?

WHONEEDSCARING.

THISGUYROBESONISAFICTION

ROBESON.

WRITERALLRIGHT.IHAVEREAD

SOMEOFHISSTUFFANDHESOFT-PEDALSTOOMANYFACTS.ITHINK

RADIOGRAM

WHATI’VEWRITTENSHOULDBE

ROBESON,NEWYORK

PRINTED.

ITSCARESMEANYWAY.WHATIS

SAMMYWALES.

YOUROPINIONOFSAMMY’SMANUSCRIPT?

SAVAGE.

RADIOGRAM

WALES,NEWYORK

HOWDIDYOUKNOWIWASINPARIS?

SAVAGE,SHANGHAISAVAGE

ITHINKSAMMYASAWRITERISNO

SHAKESPEARE.BUTHISINTENTIONS

GOOD.CANMAKEDEALTOPUBLISH

MANUSCRIPTINMAGAZINE.SUG-SAVAGE,CAIRO

GESTDOSO.SUGGESTYOUBREAK

ALITTLEBIRDTOLDME.

ALLPRECEDENTANDGIVEPER-SAMMYWALES

SONALSTATEMENTTOBEPUBLISHED.THISISONLYOUTISEE.

ROBESON.

MONKMAYFAIR,NEWYORK

IFYOUARETHEBIRDTELLING

SAMMYWALESTHINGS,CUTITOUT.

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SAVAGE

ROBESON,NEWYORK

HAVEREADSAMMYWALESMANUSCRIPT.SHAKESPEAREWILLSPININ

GRAVE.SOWILLIIFIEVERREMEM-SAVAGE,BOMBAY

BERTHIS.STATEMENTFORPUBLICA-SOTHAT’SWHYTHATPRETTYFI-ANCEEOFHISGAVEMEADATE.

TIONFOLLOWSAIRMAIL.

SAVAGE.

MONKMAYFAIR

CABLEGRAM

ROBESON,NEWYORK

STATEMENTBYDOCSAVAGE

DO

NOT

UNDERSTAND

SAMMY

YOUareabouttoreadamanuscriptWALESATTITUDE.WILLYOUASCER-writtenbyayoungmannamedSammyTAINHISTRUEREASONSFORWISH-Wales.QuiteprobablyyouhaveneverheardINGMATERIALPUBLISHED.CABLE

MESHANGHAI.

ofMr.Wales.IcertainlyhadnotheardofhimuntilquiterecentlywhentheincidentsSAVAGE.

describedinhiswritingsoccurred.Sammyseemstofeelwhathappenedwasextremelyfantasticandexciting.Itwas.

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7ButSammyWaleshasmadeamis-SammyWales,asyouwillsee,isper-take—hehastoldaboutwhathappened,andfectlywillingtofightsingle-handedagainstneglectedwhyithappened.Perhapsthatisanythinghedislikes,orforanythinghelikes.

notSammy’sfault.HeknowsmeonlyfromThathasbeenmycreed,too.Ihadthewhathesawmedo.Heknowsthewholefortune,ormisfortune,toreceiveanoddworld,really,onlyfromwhathehasseenittrainingasayouth.Myfather,victimizedbydotohimandtoothers.You’llhavetolookcriminals,imaginedthathecouldturnmedeepintoSammytoseeit,butIthinkintoasortofmodernGalahadwhowouldSammyhasauniversalfear.

sallyoutagainstallwrongdoerswhowereWhocanblameSammyWalesforbe-outsidethelaw,andwhowouldaidtheopingafraid?Thesearethedayswhenallbravepressed.Myfather,beforehisdeath,outlinedmentremblealittleforthefutureofhuman-astringentcourseoftraininginwhichIwasity.Andnowonder!Therehasjustsweptplacedinthehandsofaseriesofscientists,overtheworldanepidemicofunworkablecriminologists,physicalcultureexperts,psy-schemesderivedfromHitler,Mussolini,achiatrists—Iwon’tboreyouwithanendlesspoisongasthrownintoourmindsbytheoristslistoftheseexperts,buttheyhadmeintheiranddemagogues,bytyrantsandrascals.

handsfromthetimeIwasfourteenmonthsWasn’titDoctorJohnsonwhowrote,“Patri-olduntilIwastwentyyearsold—sothatIotismisthelastrefugeofascoundrel.”

mightbefittedforthiscareerofrightingThirtyyearsagotheywerebeginningagreatwrongsandpunishingevildoers.Ichosewartosaveliberty.Wehavejustfinishedmedicineandsurgeryforspecializing,largelyanother.AndyetIdareyoutoshowmeabecausetheunderstandingofhumanbeingssquarefootontheearth’ssurfacewherelib-thatadoctorhasfittedinwiththeother,andertyissafetoday.

becauseIlikedit.Thistraining,foresightofDon’tmisunderstandme!Ihavefaith.Imyfather’simagination,equippedmewiththinkIknowwhyweareafraid,too.Ithinkitmanyskills,mental,physicalandscientific.

afraid,too.Ithinkitmanyskills,mental,physicalandscientific.

ischangethathasterrifiedus.Changesal-Thereisnopointinbeingmodestaboutthat.

waysbreedfear,andthatisgood,becauseaIfyoustudyandpracticemanythings,youchangeisadangerousthing,nottobebecomeadeptatmanythings.Theonlyre-avoided,buttobeapproachedwarily.AndmarkablethingaboutmeisthatIhaveanykindofchangingthatdestroysisparticu-workedlikethedickenstomastersomelarlyvicious.Destruction,likedeath,issoskills.You’llbesurprisedatwhatpatientandpermanent.Andtheprofessionalwreckersofcontinualtryingcanaccomplish.

housesarealmostneverthemenwhobuildYousee,Ibelieveintrying.

homes.

ThereiswhereSammyWalesmissedHaveyouheardanybody,whenspeak-theboatinthisaccounthehaswritten.Heingofcrime,ofdeplorablegovernment,say:hasnotpaintedmeasanindividualwhohasButwhatcanjustoneguydo?Certainlyearnedwhateverabilitieshehasthehardyou’veheardthat.You’vehearditmanyway—andthereisnootherway—byrepeat-times.Andeachtimeitwasthevoiceofedlytrying.Sammyseemstofranklybelievecowardicethatspoke.Speakout,myfriend,thatthestrongthingsinlifearepassedoutandspeakoutfirmly,andyouwillfindthatready-made,insteadofbeingcreatedbytheyouarethemultitude.Whenyouletabadindividualwithinhimself.

thinghappentoyou,youhaveitcomingtoSammyshouldhavetoldmoreaboutyou.

whythingshappened.SammyhimselfisaOnethingIcansayforSammychangedman—notyetchangedasmuchasWales—hespeaksandactswiththecouragemightbedesirable,however.Hehardlymen-ofhisconvictions.Iadmirethatinhim,al-tionsthischangeinhimself,possiblybecausethoughSammyhascertainotherdeplorablehedoesnotfullygraspit—yetsurelyhetraits.

couldunderstandsuchanimportantthingasamanacquiringapurposeinlife,whenthe8

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manishimself.ButSammyglidesoverthis;likethatandtosuchaquestion,

manishimself.ButSammyglidesoverthis;likethatandtosuchaquestion,whatwasheistoomuchinterestedintheactionoftheretosay?

events,ratherthantheircauses.

“Itcouldbe,MissFenisong.ItcouldHeshouldatleasthavestatedthephi-be.”“Areyoufreethisafternoon,Mr.

losophythatsocietypreparesthecrimeandWales?”

thecriminalsonlycommitit,andthateach“Isthereamoonintheafternoon?”

individualisapartofsociety,andindeedheShelaughedheh-hehtoshowthatsheisthatsociety....

didn’tthinkIwasveryfunny,butshewasCLARKSAVAGE,JR.

willingtobeagreeable.“Sayaboutthree,then.Isthatsatisfactory?”

THESAMMYWALES

“Whynotlunch?Whywait?”

MANUSCRIPT

“Well...”

Whileshewasconsidering,IsawmyChapterIpantshangingoverthebackofachair,therighthippocketweighteddownbyabigfatbillfoldthatwasstuffed,asmybillfoldsusu-THEtelephonehadavoicelikeatruckloadofcoalbangingdownatinchute,allyare,witheverythingbutmoney.Therestraightintomyear.Myheadfeltjustaboutwerenineone-dollarbillsinit,andtherebigenoughtoholdatruckloadofcoal,too.

weren’tanymoreintheworld,Iwasbegin-Itwasprobablyabeautifulmorningningtofigure.

“Maybewe’dbetterskipthelunch,”Ioutdoors,forthesunlightstoodthroughthehotelroomwindowinbrighthardbarsandsaid.“

dustmicerodeupanddownthem.IrolledVerywell,”shesaid.“Threeo’clock,overandtookholdofthetelephoneverygen-then.”“

tly,beforeitkilledme,andanswered.TheWhataddress?”

“TheParkside-Regent,”shesaid.

voicethatcameoutofthereceiverwasas“Goodbye.”

sweetashoneyonicecream.Itsaid:“Iwantthemoonlightman.”

“Who?”

TherewassomekindofaconferenceIPUTthetelephoneonitscradleandattheotherendofthewire.Ithoughtthatalaidmyheadachebackonthepillowasgentlyaspossible.Theheadachewasadog.Itmalevoiceaddressedlovely-voicesharply.

wasoneofthosethingswhereyourtemplesThenlovely-voicesaid,“Hello?”

“Yeah?”

bulgeoutaboutafooteachtimeyourheart“IsthisMr.SamuelWalesspeaking?”

beats.Butitwasn’tanentirelyunforeseen“Whowantstoknow?”

headache,becausemissingthreemealsinaShedidnothavetoconferaboutthat,rowinvariablyproducessuchaneffectonme.Thetroublewas,thecheapestmealIbutitstoppedhershortforamomentandputhadseenonamenulastnightwasadollarabitofvinegarinherhoneyvoice.Aboutadropofvinegartoabarrelfulofnectar.Sheforty.Withonlyninepaperdollarsbetweensaid:“ThisisMissFenisongspeaking.IsMr.

meandpoverty,Iwasn’tshootinganydollarWalesthere?”

fortyondinner.

“

SonowIwasanexpertonmoonlight..

Partlyso,Iwouldsay,”Isaid.

..Thisveryunusualfactwouldn’tletmeIdidn’tknowanyMissFenisongsyet.

“MayIspeaktoMr.Wales?”shesaid.

sleepagain.Itriedgoingintothebathroom“Youare.”

andgettingadrinkofwaterthattastedfrom“Oh,”shesaid.“Oh,indeed!...Youstandinginpipes,thensittingontheedgeofareMr.Wales,theexpertonmoonlight?”

thebedandholdingmyfacewithbothhands.

“

Itdidn’thelp.Nogood.Iwouldhavetoeat.

Expertonwhat?”

“

Thetelephoneoperatorwascoöpera-Moonlight.”

Thatsortofhadmegoing.Itcouldn’ttivewhenIgotholdofheraminutelater.ShebeagagbecauseIwasn’tawarethatIknewsaid:“Mr.SamuelWalesisinfour-twelve.

anyoneinNewYorkCity.ToalovelyvoiceOh!...Oh,that’syou,isn’tit?”

“WhataboutanotherMr.SamuelWales?Haveyougotanotheroneofus?”

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9AftershehadprobablyconsultedattheParkside-Regenttofindoutwhatwentwhateveritisthatoperatorsinbighotelsusewiththatvoice.

tokeeptrackoftheguests,shesaid,“AMr.

ItwaseasytoseewhatwentwiththeSamuelWickertWalesisregisteredinsix-Parkside-RegentHotel.Probablyaminimumteen-forty.”

billoffifteenbucksaday.

“Willyouringhim?”

“Yes,Mr.Wales.I’llringtheotherMr.

Wales.”

SHEinvitedmeintohersitting-room.

Hedidn’tanswer.

Shesaid:“Comein,Mr.Wales.I’mawfullySothatwasthat.Therehadbeenangladyou’rehere.”

error.Theexpertonmoonlightwasn’ttheSowasIglad.ThismightbeaverySammyWaleswhohadaheadachefromtemporaryvisit,butalreadyitwasdefinitelyahunger.Iwouldhavecalledlovely-voiceandpay-off.Ihadknowntherewerepeopleliketoldheraboutit,butthatwouldhavecostaher,becauseIgotothemovies.Ihadsup-nickel.Adime,probably.

posedtheremightbehotelsuitesasfancyasIshouldhaveletitgoatthat.Ithoughtthisonewas,forthesamereason.

Ihad.

Ihad.

“Youdon’tneedamoon,”Isaid.

Puttingontwosuitsofclothes,IwentShedidn’twarmupverywelltothat.Iouttolookforacheapbreakfast.Wearingwassorryaboutthis,becauseIwasdoingthetwosuitswasaprecaution,becauseitmyawedbesttopaytributetoamaster-lookedasifIwasgoingtohavetobeatthatpiece.Itwasn’tjustthatshewastall,blonde,hotelbill.

peach-colored,althougheventhatwasalittleInGrandCentralStation,inthemen’slikedescribingamansionbysayingitwasaroom,Itookoffbothsuits,puttheonethathouse.Itwastheplusdetailsthatwereim-wasnotwrinkledbackon,andmadeabun-portant;anairofquietlydrawnreserve,fordleoftheotheroneandgaveittooneofexample,thatprobablyindicatednogreatthoselockercontraptionsthatkeepyourstuffemotionalneedofbeingsurroundedbyoth-twenty-fourhoursforadime.Ihadanolders,whichmightmeanalittleinhibition.Butslot-machineslugthatwouldexactlyfit.

whowantedtobepsychologicalaboutMissAcheapbreakfastinNewYorkwasn’tFenisong.Withthatfigure!

easytofind.Ididn’tknowthetown,andmustAtrim,dark-hairedmansatinachairhavewalkedthewrongdirections,becauseIholdingacigaretteinaholderthatwaslongdidnotcomeuponanypartofthetownthatandaswhiteasatooth.Helookedalittletoolookedcheap.Ifinallycompromisedonanwideforhissuit.

Automat.Thereatleastyougetapreviewof“Mr.AlbertGross,”shesaid.

thesizeoftheportionsyourmoneyisgoingWedidn’tshakehands.Iwonderediftobuy.Thegirlwhoskillfullyslungoutnickelswetooksuchasuddendisliketoeachotheranddimesforoneofmydollarssaid,“Thankforthesamereason.

you,”inavoicethatremindedmeofMiss“Soyou’reSamuelWales,themoonFenisong,whowantedamanwhoknewexpert,”hesaid.

aboutmoonlight.

“MynameisWales,”Isaid.“ButitsoIsatthereatthelittlemarble-toppedhappens—”

tablewithitspuddleofcoffeethatanother“Makeitsnappy,willyou,”hesaiddiner’scuphadleftanditsbread-crustsharply.“Wehaven’tgotmuchtime.”

crumbsandatemythirtycentsworthwithMissFenisongsaid,“Mr.Wales,wouldgreatcare.ThenIsattheresomemore.Itwentydollarsbeasatisfactoryfee?”

hadn’thadspaghetti,buttherewasaspa-

“Twentydollarswouldsatisfymeghettiwormaboutaninchlonglyingontheplenty,”Isaid.“ButI’mafraid—”

table.Ididn’tknowwhyIwassittingthere“Givehimfiftybucks,baby,”AlbertuntilitdawnedonmethatIwaslisteningtoGrosssaid.“Wehaven’tgottimetofoolthevoicesfromtheothertables,justtoseearound.”

whethertherewasanothervoicethat“Look,”Isaid.“Itsohappensthat—”

soundedasniceaslovely-voice.

“Whatthehell’sthematterwithyou?”

Threeemploymentagenciestookmyhecomplained.“Doyouwantfiftybucksorname,twoemployersexpressednointerestdon’tyou?”

inhiringme,andatthreeo’clockIturnedup10

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“Albert!”thegirlsaid.Sheseemedtolunartheoryshewasinterestedin.Lunarthinkhewasmakinganapeofhimself,whichtheoryprobablyhadtodowiththemoon.

hewas.

Morethanthataboutlunartheory,Ididn’tIdidn’tlikehimwellenoughtolethimknow.

keephismoney.

“I’msorryIhaven’tmetthisEber,”I“SureIwantfiftybucks,”Isaid,andsaid.“I’msorryaboutthat,indeedIam.”

“I’msorryaboutthat,indeedIam.”

wentoverandshovedmyhandouttohim,Thepencilstoodupstraightandaston-andadded,“Aslongasitcomesfromyou,ishedinherfingers.“Whatdoyoumean?”

andnother.”

“I’mafraidI’mjustplainSammyWales.

“What’sthedamneddifference—”

Lunartheoriesareoutofmyline.”

“Fromyouandnother,”Isaid.

“You’renotSamuelWickertWales,as-HecountedoutfivetensandItookit.ItrophysicistattheComptonObservatory?”

mightgiveitbacktohimafterlettinghim“IcameheretotellyouI’mnot.”

knowhehadpaidouttothewrongSamuelTrim-and-dark-hairedputdownhisWales.Butagain,ifIgottodislikinghimcigaretteholderthatwasthecolorofahoundmuchworse,Imightnot.

tooth.Hecameoverandhitmeonthehead.

Thatseemedtosettlethingsdowntemporarily.

HEusedanashtray.Itwasasortofsurprise;hedidnotlooklikethatkindofaFORaboutforty-fiveseconds,thatis.

fellow,althoughinlookingbackIcanseethatLongenoughforMissFenisongtotakemyhehadtalkedlikethatkindofafellow.Hehatandplaceitonatable,andseatmeinancameatmesilently;hewastherebeforeoverstuffedchairandask,“Shallwestartatanythingcouldbedoneaboutit.

once?”

Theashtraywasaheavythingof“Whynot?”

Theashtraywasaheavythingof“Whynot?”

crockery,aboutafootacross,aninchthick,Sheseatedherselfonastraighterglazedandalmostlikeglass.Itbroke.Hechair,andshebecameafairyprincessonapickeduponeofthelargerbrokenpieces,fairythrone.Shehadanotebookandpencilandpreparedtocutmythroatwithit.Possi-inherhands.Shewasgoingtotakenotesonblyhewasnotinearnestaboutthethroat-mywords.

cutting,andonlywantedtodistractmyatten-Shesaid,“Ihavebackgroundedmyselftionenoughthathecouldkickmeinthefairlycompletely.”

stomach,whichwaswhathappened.

Thatwasgoodtoknow.SuchalovelyThecarpetnapagainstmyfacewasoneshouldhaveanicebackground.Isaiditthickandsoftanddidnotsmellofdust.Itwasgood.

wasthefirstcarpetmyfacehadbeenonthat“Good,”Isaid.

didnotsmellofdust.Ilaystill,butwatchedShesaid,“WhatIwanttoaskyouhimwithmyoneeyethathadhiminrange.

aboutistheEberideaofstartingwithapre-Hewasasdisgustedasadowagerwhohadliminarylunartheorysolutioninwhichthecrackedherlorgnette.

orbitissupposedtolieintheeclipticandtoHetoldMissFenisong:“You’vemadehavenoeccentricity,thenfindingtheaddi-somekindofastupidmistake.”

tionaltermswhichdependonthefirstpowerShedidn’tsayanything.Shelookedoftheeccentricitiesandoftheinclination.”

scared.

“What?”Isaid.

Headded:“Thisbumisn’tyourmoon“DoyouagreewithEber?”sheasked.

man.Iwonderwhathappened?”Hescowled,“Whoishe?”Iasked.

didn’twaitforhertoanswer,andcontinued,Hersmilewasstrictlynotfromthe“Well,there’snotimelefttofixitup.There-heart.“Youhaveasenseofhumor,Mr.

Mr.

ceptionbeginsatfive,soyou’llhavetogoonWales,”shesaid.“But,really,wearepressedanddoyourbest.Doyouthinkyoucangetfortime.Soifyouwillkindlycoachmeonthebywithwhatyoualreadyknow?”

mattersIwishtoknow,I’dappreciateit.”

Hervoicewashighandscared,likeaApparentlyitwas

coaching

she

catonatallpole.

wanted,butshewasoutofmypond.Iwould“Whydidyouhithim?”sheasked.

havelovedtoexplaintoheraboutmoonlight,aswhowouldn’t,butitseemedthatitwasNOLIGHTTODIEBY

11Heyelled:“DoyouthinkyoucangetYouarecordiallyinvitedtoaRecep-by?”HesoundedlikethedogthathadtionhonoringtheesteemedIsotopist,Profes-chasedthecat.

sorEnriBaedeker,attheParkside-RegentShewassilent.ShewaslookingatmeFriday,5p.m.

andanxietywastakingherlipsawayfromDoctorMorandFunkHodges,Chair-herniceteeth.

“

man.

Answerme!”hebellowed.

Shedidn’t.

Scriptedininkatthefootoftheinvita-Hegotevenwithherbymovingoverandaimingakickatmyface.ButI’dhadtimetionwasthisadditionalinformation:torestandorganize.Igothisfoot,gathereditinmyarmslikeafootball,andtriedtoturnaThecelebritiespresentwillincludecartwheel,buthislegwasrubberyandClarkSavage,Jr.(DocSavage).

wouldn’tbreak.Hemade,inpain,alargehissingnoise,andIclimbedupthefrontofIdidn’tknowwhatanisotopistwas,him,tryingtotakeanarmoffhim,oratleastandhadneverheardofProfessorBaedekeranoseoranear.AllIgotwasthefrontofhisorDoctorHodges....Itseemedtomethatcoat.Ittoreoff.Hehadpaidhistailorproba-theothername,DocSavage,shouldbeblytwohundreddollarsforthecoat,andIvaguelyfamiliar,perhapsmeansomething,tookthefrontofitoffhimlikestrippingonebutIcouldn’tquiteplaceit.

peeloffabanana.Hedidn’tlikethat.

Theshindigwasthisafternoon.

Theshindigwasthisafternoon.

“Youdirtythug!”hesaid.

Iwhippedhiminthefacewiththecoatrag,thewayyouwoulduseadishragonaChapterIInaughtydog.Hewentbackafewpacesonhisheels.Therewasalargecut-glassvaseIHADhisfiftydollars,anyway.

onagildedwoodFrenchsidetable,andheEventhewashroomsintheParkside-tookthevase,rappeditonthetabletobreakRegentwereasregalassuchaplacecoulditandgetacuttingedgeofglass,andmadeconvenientlybe,andapparentlyitwasnotforme.Imadeforthedoorandgotthroughitunusualforaguesttocomeinandrepairintothehallandgotthedoorclosed.

minorphysicaldamages.IwastreatedveryHedidn’tcomeoutintothehall.Pres-discreetlybytheattendant;hepretendedheentlythekeyturnedinthedoorlock.

couldseenoevidencewhateverthatIhad“Comeoutandfightlikeaman,youbeeninafight.Iwastemptedtohandhimdirty-so-and-so,”Isaid.

oneofMr.AlbertGross’ten-dollarbills,an“Beatit,bum,”hisvoicesaid.

impulsethatwasovercomeeasily.

“MissFenisong,”Isaid.

Repairedandenraged,IsatintheShedidn’tanswer.

lobby.Thereisnothingquiteasfull-blownasIsaid:“I’msorryaboutthemix-up,MissthekindofangerthatyouhaverighteouslyFenisong.ThereweretwoWalesregisteredafteryouhavecomeoutofamesssecond-atthehotelandyougotthewrongonethisbest.Particularlyifitfollowssomethingthatmorning,whichwasme.Iwasgroggywithswattedyouwithoutjustcause.AdmittedlyIsleepanddidn’tgetitstraightenedoutatthatwasn’tthemoonexpert,butthatdidn’tseemtime.Ireallycamearoundjustnowtosquaretomelikeagoodreasontobehitovertheit.”

headandkickedinthemiddle.

“Scram,”hesaid.

AftersittingintheeleganthotellobbyOnthewaytotheelevator.Ithrewtheforawhile,IbegantogetthefeelofthepartofhiscoatIhadtakenintoacorner....

placeenoughtoseethatsomethingoutofButIwentbackandpickeditupandexam-theordinarywashappening.Menwerearriv-inedthepockets.Therewerethreeengraveding,weregettingalotofattention,gettinginvitationsthatread:ohsandahsofwonder,werebeingputinaprivateelevatorandwhiskedaloftsomewhere.

Presentlytherewasaparticularlyviolentspellofgaspingandeye-popping.Averylargemanwhohadjustenteredwasthe12

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causeofthis.Istooduptolook.Hewaswhowasalittledistractedbythemomentoflarge,allright,butnotinthesensethatyoutheoccasion.

meanfatwhenyousaylarge.

“Fromtheunion?”heasked.

Thiswasagiantbronzeman,soexcel-

“Fromtheunion,”Isaid.“I’manextralentlyproportionedthathissizewouldn’ttheysentoverincaseyouneedmorehelphavebeenjarringifhehadn’tbeennearforthisshindigupstairs.”

othermen.Hewasgood-looking,notpretty-Hesaid:“Wealwaysneedhelp.

handsomeinanysense,butreallysomethingWhere’syourworkingpaper?”

tolookatandimpress.Heseemedalittle“Ilostthat,butIcanrunbacktounionembarrassedbythetwitteringandfinger-headquartersandgetanewonesigned,”Ipointing.Movingaseasilyasifhewasonsaid.“Itwon’ttakelong.”

oiledbearings,hewenttothespecialeleva-Heshruggedandsaid,“Nevermind.

oiledbearings,hewenttothespecialeleva-Heshruggedandsaid,“Nevermind.

torandwastakenup.

Whatisyourname?”

“Who’sthat?”Iaskedafatman.

“SamuelWales.”

“That,”saidthemanpompously,“is“Sam,canyoubus?”

DocSavage.”

Ididnothavemuchofanideawhathe“AndwhoisDocSavage?”Iinquired.

meantbybus.“IfIcan’t,Iwon’texpectanyThefatmanstaredatmeasifIhadnotpay,”Isaid,tryingtosoundasifIdidn’tthinkheardofChristopherColumbus,theNewmuchofbeingabus,andwashalf-wayinDeal,andnightandday.

sulted.

“Apoorjoke,sir!”hesaid,andwalkedItwasaninsult,allright.Thejobwasoff.

thatofbus-boy;theyhandedmeabigbowlIaskedabellhop,andhesaid,“Docwithiceinit,apairoftongs,anditwasmySavage?He’sthebigshotthey’reallcomingjobtogoaroundandchuckiceinthetosee.IwishtoGodIcouldgetanauto-glasses.Itwasagoodthingtheydidn’tstartgraphoffhim.”

melayingoutthesilverware.Therewere“Whatdoeshedo?”

enoughtoolsaroundeachplatetolookasif“Savage?Herightswrongsandpun-amechanichadlaidouthiskit.

ishesevildoers.”

“Whataretheseguys?”IaskedaIlookedtoseeiftheladwasribbingwaiter.

me.Theexpressiononhisfacewasasseri-

“Scientists,”hesaid.

“Scientists,”hesaid.

ousandadmiringasthatofapickaninnywhoIfscientistsaresupposedtobebaldhadjusttouchedJoeLouis.

meninshaggysuitsandwithnohair,only“Heshouldn’tlackforbusinessinthisabouthalfofthosepresentqualified.Manyofworld,”Isaid.

themwereyoung,andtherewasawomanThebellhopsighedloudly.

hereandthere.

Iasked:“Areyouserious?”

Thebigbronzefellow,DocSavage,Hejustlookedmeupanddownandwasgettingalotofplay.Hewasbeingtalkedwalkedofthewayyouwouldleaveastraytomorethanhewastalking.Thebellhopdogafteryoufoundfleasonit.

downstairshadsaidherightedwrongsandIthoughtIwouldsitinonthisRecep-punishedevildoers,whichsoundedliketionupstairswhateveritwas.

somethingyouhearinSundaySchool,anddidn’tgowiththisfellow’sappearance.SavagelookedasifhewasamanwhoknewNOW,Ialwayshaveareasonforeve-whereallthemarbleswere.GalahadwentrythingIdo.Sometimesthereasonsdon’toutoffashionalongtimeago,andthismansatisfyanyonebutme,butthat’sallrightwithdidn’tseemback-dated.Hepuzzledme.

me.Inthiscase,Ifeltalittleguiltyaboutem-

“Who’sthebigcopper-coloredguy?”Ibarrassinglovely-voice,andabouttakingfiftyaskedanotherwaiter.

dollarsofherfriend’smoney,ifhewasher“That’sDocSavage.”

friend,andIwantedtocleartheslateofthat.

“Iknow,butwhatmakeshimrate?”

Imightevenoffertogivehimbackhisdough.

“Boy,you’rekindofignorant,aren’tButnotifIsawhimagain.Inthatcase,Iin-you?”thewaitersaid,andwalkedoff.

in-you?”thewaitersaid,andwalkedoff.

tendedtotakeastrollacrosshisface.

MissFenisong—lovely-voice—cameinThemanwhohiredthewaiterswasapresently,butherentrancewasruinedformyslick-manneredwhite-hairedoldgentlemanmoneybyAlbertGrossbeingwithher.HeNOLIGHTTODIEBY

13wasslickintailsandwhitetie,andhelookedjacketandwhitegloves.Icombedalickoftoowideforthatoutfittoo.

hairdownovermyforeheadlikethelateTwoothermenwerewithMissFeni-AdolfHitler,andhardlyknewmyself.

songandGross.Oneofthesewassomewhattallerthantheother,andthetalleronehadtheredderface.TherewasanairaboutPRESENTLYtheybeganintroducingthemthatspokeofsomethingincommon,eachothertoDocSavage.Mr.AlfredGrossalthoughitprobablywasn’tafamilytie.ItwasintroducedMr.McCutcheontoDocSavage.

hardtosaywhattheyshared,butitwasThenMr.McCutcheonintroducedMr.

probablysomethingintheirminds,acom-McGraffandMcGraffintroducedMissFeni-moninterestorpurpose.

song,whointroducedMr.GrosswhohadThefourdidn’thavebutoneengravedstartedthewholething.Theyhaditstraight-invitationbetweenthem—theotherthreehadenedoutnow;betweenthefourofthem,theybeeninAlbertGross’coatandIhadthem—hadintroducedeachothertothebronzebuttheygotinallright.Afine-lookingoldfel-man.

lowatthedoorwascheckingnamesoffalist,Thegirlremarkedthatitwasawonder-andhehadtheirnamesonthelist.Iwentfulaffair,wasn’tit?

over,askedhimwhotheywere,andhe

“Yes,isn’tit.Quitenice,”hesaid,withshowedme.

somethinglessthanenthusiasm.

MissPaulaFenisong.

“Somanyeminentpeoplehere,”sheMr.AlbertGross.

added.

added.

Mr.AlecMcGraff.

“Indeed?”

Mr.J.B.C.McCutcheon.

IwonderedifSavagewasmarried,had

“Fellow,aren’tyouoneofthewaiters?”

ajealousgirlfriend,orwasjustcautious.

Thefine-lookingoldgentlemanwasscowlingProbablybythetimeyouhavebecomeasatme.Hemusthavenoticedmybowloficeimportantasheseemedtobe,youhavecubesandtongs.

learnedtobecautious.IfMissFenisonghad

“Waiter!”Isneeredattheidea.“I’mthebeengivingmethekindofofficehewasget-bus.”Iwentbacktomywork.

ting,theywouldhavehadtosandbagmyfeetThewordsthatcameoutofthelittletokeepmeontheground.

groupsthathadgatheredtotalkwerelongonTheywereworkingonhimlikeabas-syllablesand,asfarasIwasconcerned,ketballteaminslow-motion.Theywereusingshortonmeaning.Theytalkedisotopesandsignals—oneeyebrowhigherthantheother,alphaparticles;thearrangementofcarbidesasmallsmile,aheadgesture—tokeepinandferriteinrelationtomartensite.Notalloftouchwitheachother.Theyprobablyhaditwasthatdrythough,andafewofthegoodothersignalsIdidn’tcatch.

scientistswereconductingmildexperimentsButIgotitwhenoneoftheMacscamewiththeirownbodilytolerancetoalcohol.

infromtheterraceandranhishandthroughThedoingsofMissFenisong’slittlehishair.Ididn’tknowwhichMacwaswhich,partyweremoreinteresting.MissFenisongbuthewasthetalleronewiththeredderbeganbywavinghereyelashesatDocSav-face.HecouldbeMcGrafforhecouldbeage.Shecouldhaveonlyoneideathere;butMcCutcheon.

haveonlyoneideathere;butMcCutcheon.

thepickupdidn’twork—thebigoneeitherMissFenisongtookthesignalwithawasn’tinterested,orwasn’tshowingit.

wideningoftheeyes.Shesaid:“Mr.Savage,AlbertGrossgavealittlecoöperation.

willyoulookatthemoonwithme?”

Hemovedaplace-cardfromthedaisattheWouldhelookatthemoonwithher!

headoftheroom,wherethegreatoneswereWouldthemouselikesomecheese!Onlyhetosit,toanotherpositionatasidetablethatdidn’ttakeherupveryhappily.

wasmoresecluded.ItwasDocSavage’sMostlyshehadtodraghimtowardtheplace-cardhemoved,andheputitnexttoterrace,andfromtheotherspresentshegotMissFenisong’s.

thekindoflooksthatabeautifulbabealwaysTheice-manjobaffordedanopportu-getswhenshedragsthelionawayfromthenitytocirculateandwatchtheconnivingpro-party.

gress.Iwasnicelydisguised—themanage-Sotheywantedhimontheterrace,andmenthadfittedmeoutwithcadet-stripedweregoingtoalotoftroubletogethimthere.

oversizedblacktrousers,abrickredmess

...Imovedthatwaymyself.

14

DOCSAVAGE

THEParkside-RegentprobablyhaditsmoreofyourthoughtaboutEber,butwe’downyardstickofsnobbery.Agatheringofbettergoin,hadn’twe?”

mereartistsandwriterswouldnodoubtrateHebowedpolitely,tookherarm,andnobetterthanthebasementbanquetroom,theywentbackinside.

whilediplomatsmightranktheImperialTherewereplentyofstarsoverhead.

Roomthatopenedoffthemezzanine.TheTherewasn’tanymoon.

doingstonight,obviouslyextraordinary,ratedAlfredGrossstrodeoutofthedark-theStarlightRoomontheroof.Itwasonlyaness.Hesaid,“McGraff!”sharply.Thetallfewstepsoutsidetotheterrace,awondrousred-facedMacappeared.AlfredGrosscalledplacewell-equippedwithpottedgreenery.

himalongbreathfulofnames,nonecompli-Therewassomekindofahitch.Thementary,andfinishedwith:“WhydidyougiveMacsuddenlyreappearedwithanotherkindafalsealarm,youdumbboob?”

ofsignal,ago-backonemadewithdown-McGraffmadeasicklyupwardgesturehookedmouthcornersandahead-shake.

withhisthumb.“IthoughtIsawitbegin.”

SomethingthatwassupposedtocomeoffonGrossthrewaglanceatthesky.

theterracewasn’tgoingtocomeoff,his“There’snosignofit,”hesaid.“Anditisn’thigh-signsaid.

timeyetbytwentyminutesorso.”

ItseemedtobetoolateforMissFeni-

“Ican’thelpit,”McGraffsaid.

songtostopthetriptotheterracewithDocAwaitercaptaincameuptomeandSavage,soshewentthroughwithit.Shedidsaid,“Gettowork,bud!”Ihadtogobacktoandsaidthingsthatweren’twhatshehadthetables,whereservicewasbeginning.

plannedtodoandsaywasmyguess.

ShehaddoneafairlysmoothjobofShesaid:“IwantedtoaskyouabouthandlingDocSavageontheterracemix-up,theEberideaofstartingwithapreliminaryandithadnotenteredmymindthatthebiglunartheorysolutioninwhichtheorbitisbronzemansuspectedanything.Helookedsupposedtolieintheeclipticandtohavenodignified,bored,andharassedbybeingeccentricity,thenfindingtheadditionaltermsstaredatbysomanypeople,thewayacon-whichdependonthefirstpoweroftheec-ventionofmiserswouldlookatthestuffincentricitiesandoftheinclination.”

theFortKnoxvaults.ObviouslyhewasThatsoundedfamiliar....Why,sure.

awareofMissFenisong,butheseemedtoShehadusedthesamewordsonme.Hear-beintheindecisivestageabouther,likeaingittwicemadeitsoundasifitwassome-foxeyeingabaitofasortthathadpoisonedthingshehadmemorizedoutoftheencyclo-himpreviously.

pedia.

SuddenlyDocSavagearose,excusedDocSavagelookedmildlysurprised.Ihimselftolovely-voice,andmovedarounddidn’tknowwhethershehadfooledhimorthetabletowhereAlbertGrosssat.Helaidanot.Thesurprisedlookdidn’tmeanathing.

handonGross’sshoulder,saidsomething,WordslikethatfromsuchabeautifulgirlandGrosswasdumfounded.

wouldsurpriseanybody,likehearingaca-Gross,besidesbeingtoowideforhisnarysingbass.

suits,hadajawlikeamule’shoof.Thejaw“Quitelogical,”hesaidvaguely.

suits,hadajawlikeamule’shoof.Thejaw“Quitelogical,”hesaidvaguely.

fell.

“Thenyouagree?”

“Niceworkwiththeplace-cards,”Doc“Withwhat?”

Savagesaid.

“WithEber’shypothesis.”

“Ibegyourpardon!”

“I—ah—wouldn’tquarrelwithEber,”he

“Idon’tmind.”DocSavagepattedthesaid.

man’sthick-lookingshoulder.“Thesceneryat“Oh,I’mglad,”shesaid.

thenewlocationisquiteinteresting.”

Shedidn’tseemverygladtome.ItwasGrossregisteredtheexpressionsofahardformetodistinguishfrightamidsuchmanwhohadunexpectedlyfoundahundredbeauty,butIthoughtIcouldseeit.Theyal-andtenvoltsofelectricityintheseatofhiswayshaveoneofthosephonypalmsonachair,buthedidn’tsayanything.

hotelroofterrace,andIandtheicebucketDocSavagerejoinedMissFenisong.

werebehindit....Yeah,shewasscared.

Hehadn’tmissedanything,itap-Sheadded,“Look,they’restartingtopeared.

takeseatsforthebanquet.I’dlovetogetNOLIGHTTODIEBY

15Thatwastheendofthegenteeljockey-other,orstraightback,buttheattentionwasingfortheevening.Thestagewasallclearedundividedlystraightup.

forthefireworks.

Alightwasupthere.Itcouldhavebeenmoonlight,exceptthattherewasnomoon,andthatmuchofaglowcouldn’thaveChapterIIIcomefromitifithadbeenthere.Therewas,also,noevidenceofasinglebrightlylightedASHORTbaldmanwhoseemedtobeobjectsuchasthemoon....Nosignatallofasub-chairmanstoodupandintroducedthethesourceofthebrilliance.

Chairman,aDoctorMorandFunkHodges,“Auroraborealis,”someonesaid.

presidentoftheWellandInstituteofPhysicalIthoughtsotoo.MyeducationhadSciences,distinguishedinthefieldofthegonethatfar.Theauroraborealiswasthestrontiumisotope,andAlbertGrossleftwhiletwo-dollarwordfortheNorthernLights.

thewordswerebeingsaid.

AgentlemanwithatrimmedwhiteGrossleftunobtrusively,likeapolecatbeard,standingatmyleft,snortedforcibly.

leavingthevicinityofachicken-coopat“Borealis!”hesaid.“Ridiculous!”

dawn.

Hehadexpressedthegeneralopinion,DocSavagesmootheddownhisleftitseemed.Nobodywhoknewanythingabouteyebrowwithafingertip.I’llswearthatwastheNorthernLightswouldadmitthemanifes-allhedid.Butaverywideapishlookingman,tationaboveusboreanyresemblancetohomelierthanafrog,gotupfromoneoftheNorthernLights.ButnoonehadanotherideatablesandsaunteredoutafterGross.

tooffer.

WehadaboutthreeminutesandfortyDocSavage,hisvoiceplainlyidentifi-secondsofuninterrupteddish-clatteringandableinthestillness,requested,“Willsome-lip-smacking.DoctorMorandFunkHodgesoneswitchofftheterracelights.”

hadstooduplongenoughtosaywewouldTheelectriclightsweredousedinahavemusicbythestringedensemble.Themoment.Theglowfromabovewasthenmusicseemedtobeslowgettingstarted.

moreimpressive.Ithadtheshapeofacircu-Mac—theshorteronethistime—larpatch,fuzzyaroundtheedges,andwasadashedinfromtheterrace.

ratherpoisonouslookingpurplishgreyin“ForGod’ssake,comeouthere!”hecolor.Itdidn’tcoverthewholesky.Iheldsaidinaloudattention-gettingvoice.“Come,bothhandsabovemyhead,thepalmsaboutquickly!Lookatwhatishappeningtothetwofeetapart,andthataboutspannedthesky!”

glowarea.

Hewasstaredat,butnobodydidorInoticedthething,whateveritwas,saidanything.Theyprobablythoughtitwasashedenoughlightthatwecouldseeeachgag,partoftheentertainmentoftheevening.

otherdistinctly.

“Gentlemen!”hescreamed.“Please!

“Savage,”avoicecalled.“WhatdoyouPlease,forGod’ssake,comeandlookatsayitis?”

this!”HesoundedaboutasunconcernedasTherewasnoanswer.WhileIwaslis-acatwithitstailfreshlysteppedon.

teningforone,acoupleofpairsofhandslaidFinallyoneofthescientistsdidgetupholdofme,apaironeacharm,andIwassomewhatsheepishly—youcouldseehetold,“Wewouldliketospeakwithyou,son.”

believedhewasbitingonsomething—andgooutside.Hewasbackwithhiscoattailstretchedbehindhim.Heyelled:“ComeoutITisunlikelythateveryindividualhairhere!”

stooderectonmyhead,buttheoneortwoCuriosityhadbitteneverymanandthatfailedtodosodidn’tdetractfromthewomanintheroom,andnowtheyhadtheeffect.Lookingupatthatspooklighthadexcusetheywanted.Withinacoupleofmin-donemoretomethanIhadbeenawareof.Iutes,theterracewaspacked.Iwaslateget-thinkmybodybecameasstiffasapostalso,tingoutthere,andIwantedtolaughwhenIandthetwoMacsmovedmeofftheterracesawthateveryheadwasthrownback,everybysortofliftingmeandskiddingmealongeyefixedonthesky,asiftheyhadbeenor-likeapieceofstatuary.Bythetimethekinksderedtotakethatpositionandholdit.Thebegantoreturntomyhair,theyhadmeinaheadswereheldalittletoonesideorthenichejustoffthebanquetroom.

16

DOCSAVAGE

“Son,”saidtheshorterMac,“aren’tyouTHEroom,asmallone,nottenfeetonthephonyMr.Wales?”

aside,ornate,completelywithoutfurniture“Walesismyname,”Isaid.“I’mnotbutwithnumerousmirrors,fooledmeforaphony.”

while.Itturnedouttobetheelevator,andit“Indeed?”

andnotmyheadwasdoingthemoving.

“That’sright,”Isaid.

“Ihaven’tanyeyeballsleft,”Isaid,“When,”askedthetallerMac,“didyouwhenmyteethwouldstopgrittinglongbecomeawaiter?”

enoughtoletwordsout.

“Tonight.Butyoumeanabus,nota“Pepper.”

waiter,”Isaid.

“Huh?”

“Areyoubeinghumorous?”

“OneofthemhadtheforesighttohaveWehadthenichetoourselves,anditpepperunderhisfingernails,”DocSavagewasalittledarkthere,butalotmorelonelysaid.“Abitpainful,Iimagine.”

thandark.

“Youcoveralotofgroundwiththat“No,”Isaid.“I’mnotbeinghumorous.

wordbit,”Isaid.“YoumeanI’vegoteyesLeggomyarms,doyoumind?”

afterall?”

“We’reintrigued,”theshortMacsaid,Theelevatorstopped.Iwasnotyet“bytheoddityofyourpresence,andthewayfeelingwellenoughtoknow,orcareaboutyouhavebeenfanningoutyourlargeears.

knowing,whichwaythecagehadbeentrav-We’reratherpuzzled,asafact.Couldweaskeling,butpresumablyithadgonedown,be-youaquestion?”

causeIcouldhearmuffledthroughthedoor“I’mgoodonquestions,”Isaid.“Howisthelowcave-likesoundthatisinhotellob-Mr.Spatny?”

bies.

“Who?”Iasked.

Iwassittingontheelevatorfloor.Then“Spatny.”

suddenlyDocSavagehadafistfulofmycoat“Don’tknowhim.”

front,andIwasnolongersittingonthefloor.

ShortMaclookedpastmychestattallIwasonmyfeet,orratherupintheair.

Macandsaid:“Hestatesheisn’tacquaintedHesaid:“NowwouldbeagoodtimewithSpatny.”

foryoutodoaquickjobwiththetruth.”

“Thatspeakswellforhischaracter,”tallThewayhesaiditmademegladthatIMacsaid.

couldn’tseehisfaceverywell.I’mnoJack“Son,we’dliketohavealongtalkwithDempseyorCharlieAtlas,butneitherdoIyou.”

havetobehelpedacrossstreets,yethewas“Let’snot,”Isaid.

holdingmeupthereagainsttheelevator“Walkbetweenus,”theshortonesaid.

holdingmeupthereagainsttheelevator“Walkbetweenus,”theshortonesaid.

sidewall,andIwascompletelyhelpless.Ifelt“Andwipethatmy-pants-are-on-firelookofflikeaninsectthatakidhadjustfastenedtoayourpuss.”

plankwithapin.

“ThehellIwill,”Isaid.

“Whatdoyouwanttoknow?”Igasped.

TheydidaquickerjobonmethanAl-

“Useyourjudgment,”hesaid.“AslongbertoGrosshaddoneearlierwiththeash-asit’sthetruth.”

tray.ThespeedtheygotintoitandthethorIdidn’tstoptofigureoutwhyIsud-oughnesswasproofthatitpaystoorganize,denlywantedtotalk—itobviouslywasn’tatohaveaplan.TallMacjabbedtwofingerstimeforpausingtofigureoutreasons.Notintomyeyes,andthenIcouldn’ttellwhowasthathewasexactlythreateningme.Hedidn’tdoingwhatastheykneedme,slammedmysoundlikeoneguylayingitdowntoanotherjaw,bangedmynose,kickedmyfeetfromonastreetcorner,notalawyerbulldozingundermeandstampedonmyface.Ifoughttheoppositionwitness,andleastofalldidhethemlikeabundleofwildcats.Iswungblowssoundlikeaballplayermistreatingtheump.

thatwouldhavewreckedahouseiftheyhadHe’dmerelysaidI’dbettertalk,andIknewhitahouse.Theydidn’thitanything.ButIdidthatwaswhatI’dbetterdo,ifIdidn’twantconsiderablybetterwithmyhowlingforhelp.

themcollectingmeoffthesidesoftheeleva-Quitelikelyitwasn’tthehourormoretorwithaputtyscraper.I’dneverhadany-thatitseemedbeforetheMacsranawaybodyscaremesomuchsoquick.

fromme.

DocSavagelistenedwhileIpackedacoupleofminutesfullofwords....IfItoldNOLIGHTTODIEBY

17himanylies,itwasanaccidentduetoex-zaninewithanassistanthotelmanagercitement.

throwingice-waterinmyface.”

Hesaid:“Soyoudon’tknowwhatit’s“AndyoudonotknowwhereGrossallabout?”

went?”

“That’sright.”

“Nobodyseemstoknow.”

“Youhavenothingonme,”hesaid.“IDocSavageasked,“Didyouseewhatdon’tknoweither.”

happenedinthesky?”

“Sky?”Monkshookhisheadcarefully.

“AllIsawwasstars—fromtheblackjack.”

HEopenedtheelevatordoor,andwe“DidyoueverhearofaMr.Spatny?”

steppedoutintothelobby.HelaidahandonDocSavageinquired.

myelbow,aboutasgentlyasablacksmith’s“Who?”

vise,andguidedmeacrossthelobby.Then“Nevermind,”DocSavagesaid.

westopped.

“Monk!”hesaid.

ThefellowwhohadfollowedAlbertTHEassistanthotelmanagerswereGrossoutofthebanquetroomupstairs,theflutteringaroundusnow,lookingasiftheyshortandwidemanwholookedlikeanape,wouldhavelikedtowringtheirhands,andwassittinginalobbychair.HeseemedaintroducingaMr.Casey,thehousedetective.

littlebattered.HehadathumbstuckinhisCaseyfittedthepictureofahouseman,fivemouth,feelingtolearnhowmanyteethhefeetsevenandtaperedatbothendslikeahadleft.

seal.Hewasnohelp.

“Doc,”hesaid.“ImustbelosingmyDocSavagespokebrieflytoMonkmanhood.”

MayfairinalanguageIdidnotunderstand.

Thebronzemansaidnothing.

Evidentlythebronzemanhadsuggestedthat“OrthatGrossguyisspeciallytough,”

itwouldbemoreprivateinhiscarparkedinMonkadded.

thestreet,becausethatwaswherewewent.

“Icouldhavetoldyouthat,”Isaid.

Theautomobile,alargesedanandnotDocSavageintroducedmetotheba-anewmodel,hadanunusuallysolidqualityboon.“ThisisMonkMayfair,afriendandthatInoticedwhenIwasboostedin.Ilookedassociateofmine.”

atoneofthewindowswhereitcameupMonkpointedafingeratme.“Thethroughthebody,anditwasmorethananwaiter!”Hehadabigfinger,attachedtoainchthick.

toainchthick.

handthatwasalsolargeandcoveredwith“Isthisthingarmored?”Iasked.

almostasmanybristlesasatoothbrush.

“That’soneofyourlesserworries,“Thenoseywaiter.Whatdoesheknowaboutbud,”MonkMayfairsaid.

this?”

Theygotin,oneoneithersideofme,“Hehasafunnystory,”DocSavageandthecardoorsoundedlikethedoorofasaid.

bankvaultwhenitclosed.DocSavage“Itbetternotbetoofunny.”

flickedaswitch,presentlyaradiospeaker“Whathappenedtoyou?”

washissing,andSavagesaidintoamicro-

“GrosssomehowgottheideaIwasfol-phone:“PoliceradiofromSpecial243.”Theylowinghim,whichIwas,”Monkexplained.“Iansweredhim.Hegavethepoliceaspecificgotintheelevatorwithhim.Iactedasinno-descriptionofMissFenisong,AlbertGross,centasanything,andwhileIwasdoingthat,AlecMcGraffandJ.B.C.McCutcheon.Ithehitmebetweentheeyes.Itfeltlikehewasawonderfuldescription;Icouldalmostusedananvil.Iguessitwasablackjack.Didseethemfromhiswords.Hesaid:“Idislikeyouknowamancouldbeknockedsillierthanmakingextraworkforsomebody,butIwouldacoonbygettinghitbetweentheeyeswithacertainlyappreciatearundownonthenameblackjack?”

ofSpatny.Probablyaman.Ihavenothing“WheredidGrossgo?”

butthename,butI’dlikeitcheckedagainstMonksaidbitterly,“Theguyhadhisanythingyoumighthave.”

nerve.Hetoldtheelevatoroperator,who“Don’tworryaboutmakingextrawork,hadn’tseenmegethit,thatIjustgaveaMr.Savage,”thecop’svoicesaid.“We’llgetjumpandkeeledover.WhenIwokeup,Ithestuffforyou.Whatdowedowiththewasinanicecomfortablechaironthemez-otherfourifwepickthemup?”

18

DOCSAVAGE

“I’dliketoquestionthem,”Docsaid.“If“Probablyseveraltimes,”Savagetoldyouneedacharge,oneofthemcommittedme.“Yousee,weprobablyknowlessthananassaultonmyaide,MonkMayfair.”

youabouttheaffair.”

“Andlivedthroughit!”Thecop“Inthatcase,”Isaid,“you’reprobablysoundedsurprised.“Verywell,Mr.Savage.

withoutanyinformationatall.”

Youcanexpectthefullestcoöperation.”

Isaid:“Ididn’tknowacopcouldbethatpolitetoacitizen.”

THEwaytheyletmerecitemytaleSavagetookanotherlookattheskytoagain—withoutasingleinterruption—wasn’tlearnwhethertheoddlightwasstillupthere.

tooreassuring.IwouldhavelikedthemtoItwasn’t.

indicatewhethertheydidordidn’tbelieveIsaid:“Thatwasanicedescription.Ime.AllthatcameoutofthemwasattentivecouldalmostfeelthetwoMacskickingmeinsilence.

theslatsagain.”

“Ifyou’realiar,”MonksaidwhenIfin-

“Yousaytheyweregoingtotakeyouished,“you’reprettyfluent.”

outofthehotelwiththem?”Savageasked.

Savagesaid:“Hisstoryhastheringof“Thatwastheideatheyexpressed.Bytruth,Monk.Andit’slogicalexceptononetheway,whydidn’tthey?”

point—hisreasonsforgoingtothehotelto“TheymadequiteabitofnoiseworkingseeMissFenisongaftershephonedhimbyonyou,enoughtogetmyattention.Theymistake,andthengoingtothetroublehedidsawmeandran.Unfortunately,theyhadantobepresentatthebanquet.”

escaperouteallplanned,withdoorsthey“Shucks,that’stheonlypartIbe-couldlockbehindthem.Theygotaway.”

lieved,”Monksaid.

Isaid:“That’sthewayIfigured.”

“Youthinkhisactionswerereasonable,MonkMayfairshowedsomelife.“Whatthen?”

aboutgorgeous?”hewantedtoknow.“Miss“Yousawthebabe,didn’tyou?”

Fenisong,ifthatwashername?Whatbe-

“Well...”

cameofher?”Hesatupstraight,adjusted“Takeitfromme,MissFenisongwashisnecktie,andadded,“Youknow,Ithinkwethebaitthatgothimintoit,”Monksaid.“Thatshouldquestionthatbabe.”

partIbelieve.”Heshovedhisfaceatmeand“Isawherfirst,”Isaid.

added,“Butyou’dbettergetovertheyen,Monkgavemealookthatwouldhavebum.”

crackedarock.“Yeah?”hesaid.“Well,“Idon’tthinkIcanlickyou,”Itoldhim.

maybeI’llhandyousomethingelsetothink“Butyoucallmeabumagain,andI’lltestitabout.”

I’lltestitabout.”

out.”

“Easyonthat,”DocSavagetoldhim.

“Aren’tyouabum?”

“Sammyhasbeenrathercoöperativesofar.”

“Onlytomyfriends.”

“Who’sSammy?”

Hegrinned,andIwasgladhedid.I“Me,”Isaid.“Whatdidbecomeofthewasgoingtohithim,andhewouldhaveru-girl?”

inedme.

DocSavagesaid:“IhaveanassociateIasked:“Howcomeyoufellowstookfollowingher.”

holdofthethingthewayyoudid,ifyoudidn’t“ByGod,haveyougotthatshysterknowsomethingwascomingoff?Itlookedtolawyertrailingher!”Monkyelled.“Havingmelikeyouwerecockedandprimed.”

HamBrooksshadowthatgirlisaboutas“Howdoyoumean?”Monkasked.

practicalaspostingahounddogtowatcha“Well,youfollowedGrosswhenheleft.

beefsteak.”

ThisHamBrooks,whoeverheis,istailingIgatheredthatMonkMayfairandHamthegirl.AndDocSavagedidn’texactlysleepBrookshadopinionsabouteachother,andthroughit.Allofthatseemstorequiread-DocSavagewasaccustomedtoit.

vancearrangementstome.Howcome?”

“Sammy,”DocSavagesaid.“TellMonkMonkshrugged.“We’vedevelopedahowyougotintoit.Andifyouthinkofany-technique.”

howyougotintoit.Andifyouthinkofany-technique.”

thingyouforgottotellme,tossitin.”

“Huh?”

“YoumeanIgottagothroughthat“Whenyou’vebeenintroubleasmanyagain?”

timesaswehave,”heexplained,“youjustNOLIGHTTODIEBY

19

function

automatically

when

something

Iwasimpressedenoughtohangmydoesn’tlookright.”

mouthopenandnotsayanything.HehadanDocSavagesaid:“Therewasnomagiceffectivewayofsayingwhathesaid,andIaboutit.IsawGrosschangetheplace-cards,didn’tdoubtforaminutethatheknewwhatandMissFenisongwasfairlytransparent—hewastalkingabout,mythoughtbeingthatsheclaimedtobealunarexpert,butwhatallthosescientiststonightwouldn’thaveallshedidn’tknowaboutitwasconsiderable.IbutfallenontheirkneesifhewasanordinarysawMcGraffsignalhertobringmeoutonguy.

theterrace.Thatwasfairlyobvious.IhadtheHegaveusapieceofhisphilosophy.

fourofthemspotted—I’dnoticedthatthey“It’sunfortunatethatthemoralenlightenmentwentthroughamumbo-jumbointroducingofthehumanraceisn’tkeepingpacewithitseachothertome—andso,withoutattractingscientificdiscoveries.It’sfrighteningtothinkanymoreattentionthannecessary,IaskedthatacrookmightsomedaygetholdofMonktotrailGross,andHamthegirl.Iwassomethingaseffectiveasthegadgettheygoingtodomybestwiththeothertwo.AsitdroppedonHiroshima.”

turnedout,mybestwasn’tgood.”

“Whatmakesyouthinkthatthinginthe“Whooeeee!”Isaid.“Youhadyourskywasman-made?”

eyesopen.”

“Theyhadittimed....MissFenisong“Ithinkthewholearrangementwasde-seemedtoknowtowithinafewminutesofsignedtogetmeoutontheterracewhenthethetimeitwasgoingtocome,”hesaid.

chromosphericeruptionoccurred,”SavageHewasright.Andhehadmescared.

added.

Hehadthelittlecold-footedthingsscuttling“Thechromo—thewhat?”

upanddownmyspine.IfanybodyhadsaidHehesitated.“Therewasaratherboo!rightthen.Iwouldhavemadeagoodtryuniqueluminanceinthesky—”

atjumpingrightthroughthesideofthatar-

“Isawthat,”Isaid.“Youmeanyou’vemoredcar.Theyhadmefrightenedstiffofgotanameforwhatwesaw?”

somethingIdidn’tknowwhatwas,andtheyHeshookhishead.“Iwouldn’twanttodidn’tknowwhatwas.

bequoted,butitseemedtobeinthenatureofwhatscientistscallchromosphericeruptions,althoughcertainlyIknowofnore-ChapterIV

cordedinstanceofsuchmagnitudeandpurelylocalizednature.Apparently,too,itHEwasdyingwhenhecamedowntheoccurredfarshortoftheAppletonstratum,street.Notyetdeadofcourse,butwellonhisbutwithouttheaidofanelectronicmultiplier,waytoit—enoughofhislifehadleakedoutit’shardtosay—”

ofhimthatheprobablyhadnoveryclear“You’vegoneoffandleftmeintheideawherehewasgoingorwhathewouldbushesalready,”Isaid.“Negativeandposi-doifhegotthere.

tiveelectricityisasfarasIgo,andallIknowSavagesawhimfirstandpointed,said,aboutthemisthatthey’remarkedplusand“Lookatthat!”Then,whenMonkstartedtominusonabattery....Tellmethis—isitgetout,headded,“Couldbeatrap.Stayinbad?”

thecar.We’lldriveupbesidehim.”

Hehesitatedoverthatone,too.

Thiswasafinestreetoftallmodern“Itmightnotbegood,”hesaid.

buildingswithnobasemententrywaysand“Howdoyoufigurethat?”

noironpicketfencestogiveastaggering“Ihaven’tfiguredit.Ifwhathappenedmantrouble.ThatwasprobablywhyhehadupthereintheskytonightiswhatIthinkitgottenthisfar.Maybehehadnotcomeawas,itsteppedoffintothefieldofadvancedgreatdistance,butevenafewfeetwouldbescience,andwhenyoudothatthesedays,agreatdistanceforhim.Hekeptagainsttheit’snotsafetopredictwhatmightbedone.

buildings,kepthisfeetunderhimsomehow,Letmeputitthisway—ifthatmanifestationinandmovedbyskiddingashoulderagainsttheskywesawtonightwasman-made,andthebuildings.

thereareindicationsitwas,we’reupagainstOurcarcameupwithhimaswarilyasknowledgereachingbeyondthatnecessaryakittenstalkingacricket.Wesatthereatocreatetheatombomb.”

moment.“Itlooksclear,”DocSavagesaid.

20

DOCSAVAGE

Savagegotout,stoodbeforetheman,IwonderedwhySavagehadchangedstoodintheman’spath,andthemancamethesubjecttoSpatny,andthenIknew.ItwasslidingalongtheslickgranitesideofthebecauseAlbertGrosswasdead.HewasbuildinguntilhewasagainstSavage,andspreadoutthereonthesidewalk,andhislifeeventhenhekeptpushingwithrubberylegs.

wasallgone.Hislastwordshadbeenclear,“Gross,”Savagesaidtotheman.

fineandclearasapoliticiantellingacon-

“Gross,doyouknowme?”

stituentthehightaxesaren’thisfault.

Gross’kneeskeptbendingforward,“Gothroughhispockets,Monk,”Docthenback,alittlemoreeachtime,andheSavagesaid.

seemedtogrowshorterandsettleintothepavement.

He

moaned—a

hurt-sheep

sound—asSavagetookholdofhimandlowIDIDN’Tbelieveit,andIstilldidn’tbe-eredhimtothepavement.

lieveitevenafterwedugupthreedifferentDocSavageleaned

lieveitevenafterwedugupthreedifferentDocSavageleaned

down

and

peoplewhohadseentheblackobject.Onewrenchedopentheman’svestandshirt.AnofthemhadseenGrossrunintothenicheicepickhaddoneit,itseemedtome.Ibetweenthebuildings—welookedatthecountedsevenlittlepitswithscarletyarnsnicheanditwasthere,allright,akindofser-comingoutofthem,anditwasdarkandIvicealleyaboutfivefeetwide—andthesamecouldonlyseeapartofhistorso.

spectatorhadseentheblackobjectgoin“Holysmoke,whydidn’tsomebodyafterGross.Ithadn’tcomeout.Thepolicehelphim?”Isaid.

dugupsomemorewitnesseswiththesameMonkMayfairsaid:“ThisisNewYork.

yarn,exceptthatoneofthemhadtheblackNobodybotherswithanybodyelse.It’sthethingahundredfeethigh.Thecopsweren’tdamndesttownthatway....TheyprobablyanymorewillingtobelieveitthanIwas.

thoughthewasdrunk.”

“Nothinginhispockets,”Monkre-AlbertGrossspoke,andIjumpedaported.

foot.Ihadsupposedhisvoicewouldbe“Nothing?”

madeofthingaspsandgurgles,butitwas“He’sbeengoneoverwithavacuumstrongandbell-clear.

cleaner.”

Hesaid:“Iwastryingtogettoyou.DidDocSavagemademeaproposition.

youseethesky?”

“Doyouwanttogotojail,ordoyouwantto“Isawit,”DocSavagetoldhim.

gowithus?”

“Wewantedyouto.”

Thathadbeenonmymind.Icouldsee“Why?”

Iwasn’tgoingtojustwalkoutofthis.

“Listentome,”Grosssaid.“Itwas“Yourcompanysatisfiesme,”Isaid.

black,butitwasn’tbig.Black,see—maybeWewentbacktotheParkside-RegentfifteenfeetlongandnotquiteashighnorthatandpaidavisittoMissFenisong’sroom.Shewide.Theoutsidelookedsortoffuzzy.Itwasnotinhabitingit.Nobodywassurprised.

seemedtokeepthatshape.Itcameout,or“We’llgodowntoheadquarters,andseemedtocomeoutofadoorway,akindofseewhatwecanworkout,”Savagesaid.

anarcadeintoabuilding.Therewasnoap-Hedidn’tmeanpoliceheadquarters,pearanceofitflowingout.Itjustcameout,whichiswhatIsupposed.Werodedown-full-blown.Itcametome,ortowardme,andItowninsilence.Theydidn’tmentionwhatduckedintoanichebetweentwobuildings.Ittheywerethinkingabout,butIwasthinkingcamerightinafterme.ItwasblackashellofAlbertGross,toowideforhissuits,tooinsidethething.ThenIfeltsharpthingsstick-quicktohitpeopleonthehead,andnowtooingintome,anditdidn’thurttoobad,andfulloflittleholes.Wegotoutinfrontofathenithurtlikehell.”

building,andwhenIlookedupIrealizedthat“Morethanonesharpthing?”DocI’dseenplentyofpicturepostcardsoftheSavageasked.

place.Igathereditwasaprivateelevatorwe“Onething,stickingintomemanyused;therewasnooneelseinit,andnoop-times.Icouldbewrong,though.”

erator.Youpushedabutton.Itwentupas“Thenwhat?”

softlyasawhisperinagirl’sthroat,andlet“Idon’tknow.Ipassedout.”

usoutintoahall.WewalkedintoareceptionDocSavageasked:“WhoisSpatny?”

room,ontocarpetthatfeltlikeafallofsnow“Agreatone,”Grosssaid.

underfoot.

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

21Therewasanenormousancientsafe,Thistimetheydidn’tsitbackandletatableofinlaidwoodsthatwasthemostmerecite.Theyhadquestions,ahundredbeautifulthingI’dseeninthewayoftables,questionsaboutdetails.Ihadalwayssup-andnofurniturethatyouneededtolookatposedmymemorywasprettygood,andthattwicebeforeyousatonit.

Ihadaneyefordetails.Iwaswrong.FiveThroughadoor,therewasalibraryminutesofthis,andIfeltlikeablindcow.

whichseemedtohaveaboutasmanybooksDocSavageasked:“WhatdidyoudoasIimaginetheLibraryofCongresshas.

withthepartyoutoreoffGross’coat?”

Beyondthat,pastanotherdoor,thereItoldhimwhattrash-canIhadstuffeditseemedtobenearanacreoffloor-spacein.

clutteredwiththesortofstuff—enameled“Getit,”hedirectedMonk,andMonktables,glasstables,chromiumthingajigsandleft.

thingajigsofglass,trays,retorts,filters,Hethrewaquestionatmeeveryotherpumps,bottles,phials,coils,tubes,wire—word,andwecoveredtherestofit.Thema-thatyouseeinmovingpicturescenesofchinewasmakingazig-zagmessoflinesonlaboratories.

arollofmovinggraphpaper,andhehad“Well?”MonkMayfairasked.Hewaswatcheditclosely.

watchingme.

“DoIpass?”Iasked.

Ipulledmyjawandasked,“Whose“EverbeeninNewYorkbefore,diggings?”

Sammy?”

“Doc’s.”

“Doc’s.”

“No.Imean,IwentthroughitwhenI“Youmeanoneguy,allofthis?”

wasinthearmy,whichIdon’tcallbeing“That’sright.”

here,”Isaid.

“Whereareyoufrom?”

“KansasCity.”

THEYfixedacomfortablechairforme,“WhydidyouleaveKansasCity,andMonkbroughtoutapieceofapparatusSammy?”

thatcouldhavebeenaradiobutwasn’t.

“Iwasgettingfiredofftoomanyjobs,”ITheyputthegimmickbesidemychair.“Taketoldhim.“Iwantedtoseeifachangeofoffyourcoatandrollupyoursleeveandsitscenerywouldchangemyluck.”

down,”Monkordered.Idid,andtheyputat-

“Whatseemedtobethetrouble?”

tachmentsonmyhand,aroundmychestand“Notenoughmoney,toomuchwork,one,theonlyoneIrecognized,onmyarmandbosseslookingdownmycollar,”Isaid.

abovetheelbow.Thelattercloselyresem-

“Everyonehasthatkindofaproblem.”

bled,orwasoneofthosethingsthedoctors“Yeah?Wellmaybeit’snoneofyourwraparoundyourarmtogetbloodpressure.

business,”Isaid.

“What’sthis?”Iasked.

“What’sthis?”Iasked.

Hesaid:“Maybeyoudidn’tputitout.

“Liedetector,”Monksaid.“AreyouMaybeyoufelttheworldowedyouaplushworried?”

living.”

“Okay,”Isaid.“Okay,butstickto“Whynot?”Isaid.“Ispentalotoftimewhat’syourbusiness,orI’llstuffthethinginfoxholes,andwhileI’mlyinginmudanddownyourthroat.”

beingshotat,guysnotasgoodasmedrewMonkgrinned.“Iwouldn’twantoneoftheirhundredbucksaweekandsawtheirthethingsonme,either,”hesaid.“Notallthebabeseverynight.Okay,nowIwantsomeoftime.”

that.”

Youhadtolikethehomelybaboon.He“Oh,aprofessionalhero.”

wasuglierthanamudfence.Amudfence“Iresentthat.”

wouldhavelookedlikeapieceofsilkribbon“Look,”hesaid.“Thereweretenmillionbesidehim.Butitwasanamiablekindofmenmoreorlessinservice,justaboutallthehomeliness—youfeltthesamewaytowardable-bodiedmeninonegeneration,justhimthatyoufeeltowardSt.Bernarddogs,aboutallthemenwhoaregoingtobecapa-whoalsohavefaceswhichdon’ttakebeautybleofbeingsuccessfulforthenextfewprizes.

years.Thatwouldhavebeentrueifthere“Let’shaveyourstory,”DocSavagehadn’tbeenawar.Whatwouldhappenifallsaid.

tenmillionstoodaroundholdingtheirhands“Heck—again?”Icomplained.

22

DOCSAVAGE

outandyellingforahundreddollarsaweek“Laundrymarks,”Isaid.“Thatwon’tandnowork?”

helpyou.”

“YoumeanI’mabum?”

Notdiscouraged,hegotonthetele-

“Imeanyouaremakingnoiseslikephone,talkedtosomeexpertinthepoliceone.”

department,andmadealiaroutofme.

“Idon’tknowwhatthehellstartedthis,”

“ThesuitwascleanedthelastfiveIyelled.“ButIgotacoupleofmedalsthattimesbyashopintheelevenhundredblocksaysIdidthisnationaservice.NowitowesonLexingtonAvenue,”Savagesaid.

meservice,whatImean.”

Hetelephonedthecleaningshoppro-

“Whoisthenation?”

prietorathome,butthefellowwasoutona“Huh?”

party.Hecalledthepolice,andgotthem“Thinkitover,”hesaid.“Ifyouandthelookingfortheman.

othertenmillionaren’tthenation,youmightHehandedthecoatfragmentandtellmewhois.”

pockettoMonk,andsaid,“RunachemicalThatwasallofthat—exceptthatIhap-andmicroscopetestontheclothandthepenedtowanderintothebigroomwherethepocketscrapings.Itmightgiveussome-bookswere,andwhileIwaslookingtoseething.”

whethertherewereanyatallwithtitlesIMonkMayfairdidn’tlooktomeasifhecouldunderstand—itwasentirelyscientifichadbrainsenoughtorunatestonanything,stuff—Icameacrossalittledisplaycase.Itunlessitwastorunhiseyeupanddownawasn’tconspicuous,backinacorner.Itwasprettyleg.Therewaslessthananinchbe-fullofmedals.Igotafunnyfeeling.Theretweenhiseyebrowsandhishairline.

waseverythingfromthatlittleblueribbonWehadavisitorthen.DoctorMorandwiththestarsonitondown,andImeanitFunkHodges,chairmanofthedoingsatthemademefeeldown,tothecoupleIhad.IParkside-Regenttonight.Hehadathinthoughtmaybe,atfirst,he’dwarmedaswivelyoungmanintow,andwasactingasifhechairforthem.Thetroublewiththatideaintendedwringingthelatter’sneckabitlater.

was,youdidn’tgetpurpleheartsforaswivelThethinyoungmanhadwetlips,apimpleonchairpinchingyourbottom.Andhehadfour!

hisneck,andwaswearingalargescare.

Therewasalittleleatherfoliocontaining“Tellthem,Wilfred,”DoctorHodgessomeofthecitations,andIreadacouple.Hesaidominously.

hadn’tbeeninanyswivelchair.Ididn’thaveWilfredhadmoretroublewithhismuchtosayforawhile.

wordsthanaguyjugglingalightedmatchinapowderfactory.He,itseemed,wasthebanquetsecretary,theonewhosentouttheMONKMAYFAIRcameback.Hehadinvitations.

thepartofAlbertGross’coatI’dtornoff,andAmanhadpaidhimahundreddollarsaquestion.“Anywordfromtheshysterlaw-tomailfourinvitationstoMissPaulaFeni-yer?”hewantedtoknow,andlookedwor-song,Mr.AlbertGross,Mr.AlecMcGraffandried—whiletryingnottolookworried—whenMr.

Gross,Mr.AlecMcGraffandried—whiletryingnottolookworried—whenMr.J.B.C.McCutcheon.And,ofcourseputtoldtherehadbeennonewsfromHamtheirnamesontheguest-list.ThemanwhoBrooks.

hadspentthehundredwasMr.McCutcheon.

Formymoney,thepieceofcoatwasn’tThetallerandredder-facedMac.

goingtodothemanygood.I’dlookeditover,“Wilfred,you’refired!”saidthegoodandallithadgivenmewasthreeinvitationsDoctorHodges.“AndIamgoingtokickyouatotheReception.Ifigureditwasadopeygoodoneinthepants.”

wasteoftime,goingbackuptownforit.

Hesoundedfunny,thedignifiedwayMonksaid:“IcheckedwitholdDochesaidit,butatthesametimeasifhisHodges,thechairman,abouthowthefourofmouthwasfullofknives.Hewasaneminent-themgotinvitedtotheReception.He’dwon-seemingoldcodger,quitelikeable.Andsoderedhimself,andhe’sfindingout.He’llcall.”

helpmeifhedidn’tleadWilfredoutintheDocSavagewentoverthecoatfrag-hall,andwecouldhearhimputhisfootment.HebecameinterestedintheinsideofagainstWilfred’sseat.Itsoundedlikeagoodthecoatpocket,andcutthepocketoutwithaone.

razorblade.

DoctorHodgescamebackin,satdownandtookoffhisshoeandexaminedhisfootNOLIGHTTODIEBY

23fordamage.Hesaid,“Ahundreddollars—Isaid:“Theoldgafferdidn’tseemtotheywantedtomeetyoubadly,Savage.No-haveheardoftheblackit-can’t-bethatwasbodyeverpaysahundredbuckstomeetme.

crawlingaroundinthestreetanddidinFoolsiftheydid.Youknow,thatbusinessGross.”

reallylivenedupthebanquet,didn’tit?Good“Thatremindsme,”DocSavagesaid,thing.Wehadalousyprogram.Youshouldandhetelephonedthepolicemedicalexam-haveheardBaedeker’sspeech.Itputhalfofiner,askingiftheexactcauseofthedeathofthemtosleep—thosewhodidn’tknowAlbertGrosshadbeenascertained.Evidentlyenoughaboutwhattheysawintheskyto-ithad,becausehelistenedintentlytothenighttohavetheirhairscareduponend.”

news.

DocSavagesaid:“Doctor,doyouthink

“Well,whatdidGrossdieof?”Ide-whatwesawwasachromosphericeruptionmanded.

ofterrestrialorigin?”

“Oflittleholesinhim,”Savagesaid“Sure.Sodoyou.”DoctorHodgeshadbriefly.

chinwhiskersofthenannygoatvariety,andThishardlycameundertheheadingofhegavethemaworriedyank.“Dratit,man,freshnews.IgatheredthathethoughtIwhocouldhavedevelopedameansofcreat-couldn’tdomuchwiththedetailsifIhadingmolecularcollisionwithfreeelectronsinthem.Itcouldbe.

oneoftheperturbingstrata?IthoughtIknewalltheatmosphericphysicistsdoingworkalongthatline.ButIknowofnoonewhoisDOCSAVAGEmadetelephonecalls.

nearachievingthesortofsuccesswesawHegotholdofSamuelWickertWales,thedemonstratedoverthathoteltonight.”

thedemonstratedoverthathoteltonight.”

astrophysicistoftheComptonObservatory,“It’sapuzzle,”DocSavageadmitted.

theguywhosephonecallI’daccidentally“Dammit,doesn’titscareyou?”

receivedthatmorning—andhowIwaswish-

“Somewhat.”

ingIhadn’t!—andlearnedthatWaleshadDoctorHodgesdidsomeshudderingmadeadealtocoachMissFenisongontheandwhisker-yanking,andpondered,“Howdolunartheory.Thedealhadbeenmadebyyousupposeitwasachieved?Todriveelec-telephone;WaleshadnevermetMissFeni-tronsagainstmoleculesandobtainopticalsong.Inotherwords,hehadnothingtocon-waveemission,inthevisiblespectrum—fortribute.Savagethankedhimasgentlyasaatleastpartofitwasinthevisiblespectrum,chorinestrokinghernewminkcoat.

sincewecouldseearoundluminouspatch“Ifitwasme,”Isaid,“I’dthrowalittleinthesky—theyeitherhadaterrifictransmit-scarearound.”

terformicrowave-lengths,ortheyhadstum-

“Ifitwasyou,”hereplied,“you’dbledonashort-cut.God,IwishI’dhadanprobablygethitontheheadagain.”

electronicmultipliertherewhileitwasgoing“Touché,”Isaid.“Onlythere’sbeenon,withenoughotherapparatustogetamurderdone.”

test.”

“Probablyworse,”hesaid,andwentThenextfiveminutesofdiscussionintothelaboratory,leavingmetodiscoverwasovermyhead.ProbablyIrecognizedthatIhadafirst-ratecaseofthecreepingtwowords.Myminusandpluselectricityjeebies.Ididn’tknowexactlywhattherewasdidn’tgetmefar.

tobeafraidof—Iwasn’tthatscientific—butITheeminentdoctorcouldhavetalkedknewalarminotherpeoplewhenIsawit.

aboutitallnight,butSavagethrewhimoutinSavagewasalarmed.DoctorHodgeshadapoliteway,promisingtolethimhaveabeenalarmed.Theonly

Hodgeshadapoliteway,promisingtolethimhaveabeenalarmed.TheonlyemotionthatwouldpeepatthegimmickthathadmadethelightshowonafacelikeMonkMayfairhadwasifwefoundit.

dumbness,buthewasprobablyalarmedtoo.

“Niceoldguywithalotofbigwords,”IIwasn’tkiddingmyself—mostlyIwassaid.

afraidofwhatIdidn’tknow.Asakid,Ialways“Andbigdeeds,”DocSavagesaidranlikeblazespastgraveyardsatnight,forsharply.“DoctorHodgesisthemanwho—”

thereasonthatIdidn’tknowwhatmightHedidn’tfinishthat.ButwhateverDoc-comeoutofagraveyard.OnlyafewmonthstorHodgeshadcontributedtoscience,Iago,Iwasoneofthosewhofiguredthosegathereditwasplenty.

tinkeringscientistswouldprobablyblowtheworldtodustwiththeiratombombtests.Ig-24

DOCSAVAGE

noranceisn’tblisssometimes—itcanbeHedidn’tgetthempettinghorsesriddenbystarkterror.

NewYorkcops,becausethemountedpoliceAnyway,IwasinsuchatizzythatIdon’tusegreyhorses.Thatmeantcountry,wasforgettinglovely-voiceandhowswellanestate,agreenhouse.Getit?”

shelookedandhowniceadishshewould“Isthisarib?”

makeacrossthebreakfasttableofmornings.

Heshrugged.“TherewasaflakeorsoThat,forme,wasquiteatizzy.

ofwhitebrickpaint—anewtypetheNazisdevelopedduringthewar,andneveronsaleinAmericauntilthelastyear.Itdoesn’tworkChapterV

onoldbrickthathasbeenpainted,onlyonnewbrick.Henceanewwhitehouse—andITwasasurpriseforaroughcrummy-probablyquitenew,becausehe’sbeenfool-lookingpackagedoneupinburlapandtoughingaroundtheoutsideof

beenfool-lookingpackagedoneupinburlapandtoughingaroundtheoutsideofittogetthepaintcordtocontainafistfulofpolisheddia-tracesonhim.Therewereplentyofgreenmonds—butthatwaswhatMonkMayfairvelvethairsfromupholsteryfabric....So,turnedouttobe.Hefinishedwithhismicro-wegetanestateinthecountry—wherebutinscopeandsomemixturesofstinkingchemi-thecountrydoyoufindestates?—withacalswhichhehadbeenusingonAlbertgreenhouse,nearthenorthshoreofLongGross’coatfragment.

Island.Thelastisaguess—theNorthShoreMonksaid:“Well,here’sthestoryoniswhereyoufindmostoftheestatesnearaGross.”

seashorearoundNewYorkCity.Andthe“Let’shaveit,”Savagetoldhim.

houseiswhitebrick.Nowdoyoucatchon?

“Youwantmetointerpret?”

Seehowsimple.”

“Sure.”

“Itsoundslikemoon-jumpingtome,”I

“AlbertGross,”Monksaid,“livedonthesaid.

northshoreofLongIsland,inalargehouseDocSavagesaid,“Grossprobablythatispartofanestatehavingagreenhouseownstheestate.”

andstables.Thehouseisnew,beenbuilt“Huh?”

withinthelastyear,andtheoutsideiswhite-

“Expensivesuit.Threehundreddollars,paintedbrick,whichshouldmakeiteasiertoprobably.Amanwiththatmoneyforhisfind.TheroominthehousethatGrosslikedclothescouldownanestate.”

bestisfurnishedingreenvelvetandthefur-

“Youtoo!”Isaid.“Youmeantotellmenitureisoverstuffed....Takealookandseeyoulookatapieceoffaguy’scoatandtellhowfaryouthinkImissedit.Here’smywherehewenttoschool?”

notes.”

notes.”

“HewenttoschoolinVienna,Austria,”

Isaid:“Niceguessing.”

DocSavagesaid.

“Whatguessing?”Monkasked.

“Yeah?”Isaid.“NowIknowit’sarib.”

“Thatstuffyoujustspouted.”

“Don’tbeadope.”

“I’mnot,”Isaid.“That’swhyIdon’tPRESENTLYthetelephonerang,andswallowthatlineofSherlockHolmesguffyouitwasthepolice.Theysaidthey’dfoundthejustputout.”

proprietorofthecleaningshoponLexington“No?”

Avenue,andwererushinghimdowntolook“No,”Isaid.

athisrecordsandseeifAlbertGrosshadleftMonkgavemethatbaboongrin.

anaddresswhenhelefthissuitstobe“Thereweretracesofsaltonthecoatfabric,cleaned.

andthat—andthedistributionofthetraces—“Ain’tLexingtonAvenuerighthereinmeantexposuretoseabreezes.Ergo,hedowntownNewYork?”Iasked.“Downthehadbeenaroundtheseaorseashore.Ispoutgoesyourwild-and-wooliesaboutdidn’tfindanysalt-waterspots,soitwasGrosshavingaLongIslandestate.”

probablytheseashore.TherewaspollenTheydidn’tseemdiscouraged.Itap-fromninedifferentflowers,includingorchidspearedtheyweregoingtolookonthenorthofthreevarieties,onthecloth,orinit.ThatshoreofLongIslandfor

thenorthofthreevarieties,onthecloth,orinit.ThatshoreofLongIslandfortheplace.

meanteitheraflowershoporgreenhouse.

“You’velaidoutamonth’sjobthere,”ITherewereseveralhorsehairsonthelapels,said.

fromatleasttwodifferenthorses,bothgreys.

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

25Thepolicecalledagain.TheywereatHesweatacoupleofpintswhilehewasthecleaningfellow’sshop,hadfoundoutallshowingDocSavagewhichphotographsthemanknewaboutAlbertGross,anditwerethenorthshoreofLongIsland.

wasn’tmuch.HerememberedGross.ButitDocSavagethankedhimmildly,andwasn’tGrosswhohadbroughtinthestufftoaskedmetoshowhimout.

becleaned;itwasthechauffeur.Thechauf-Inthehall,Edsinggrabbedmebythefeurhadbroughtinahalfdozenofhisboss’

necktieandblurted,“DoyouthinkI’llbesuitsatatime,explainingthebosshadafired?”

madonatthecleaneroutonLongIslandIaskedhim:“What’sthematter,didawherehelived.Themandidn’tknowGross’

taxpayerbiteyouback?”

address,nordidheknowthechauffeur’s“GoodGod,Ididn’trealizewhohenameandaddress.Thechauffeurdidn’tan-was,”Edsinggasped.“TheCommissionerinswerthedescriptionofanybodyweknew.

Albanywasmadasahornet.Man,heateme

“Whatdowedonow?”Iasked.“Spendoutuptohere.”HelookedasifhewasgoingthirtydayscombingLongIsland?”

tospraymewithtears.“AndmewithahomeMonkdugme.Hesaid:“Oh,youadmitIjustpaidtwopricesfor,andapregnantwife.

GrosslivedonLongIsland,now?”

CouldyousmoothitoutformewithSav-

“Justbecauseonepinfelldowndon’tage?”

meanyougotastrike,”Isaid.

“I’mhavingtroublesmoothingitoutforDocSavagetelephonedsomebodymyself,”Isaid.“ButI’lltry.”

namedEdsing.Hedidn’tgetmuchsatisfac-Edsingfilledmyearfullofgratefultion.HecalledsomebodyinAlbany,thestatewords,andIgotridofhim.

capitol,andthesomebodysaidhewouldSavageandMonkMayfairweregoingphoneEdsingrightnowandseethatEdsingovertheaërialphotographs.

deliveredsatisfaction.

Isaid:“Thatguythinkshe’sgoingtoMonkMayfairhadmepuzzled.Whenlosehisjob.Hiswifeisinafamilyway,andithewentintheotherroom,IaskedDocSav-mightgohardonhim.”

age:“ThisguyMayfair’sgotmeguessing.HeSavagewasconcerned.HetoldMonklookslikeanemptybox.Helookslikesome-MayfairtosendEdsinganoteofthanks,andthinggrasswouldn’tgrowon.MaybehissaythatifEdsingwouldcallso-and-sohospi-looksaredeceiving—eh?”

tal,Mrs.Edsingwouldfindherhospitalser-

“Maybe,”Savagesaid.

viceswouldn’tcostheranything.

“Whoishe?”

Iasked:“Ain’tthatakindofexpensive

“Monk?HisfullnameisLieutenanttipforthereluctantfavortheguydone?”

ColonelAndrewBlodgettMayfair.HehasaMonksaid:“Docownsthehospital.Solotoflettersafterhisnamemeaningdegreeswhat?”

andfellowships,butifyouusedthemhe’dhitTheyfinishedupbymarkingringsyouintheeye.He’soneoftheworld’slead-aroundthreehouses,orestates,whichhadingresearchchemists.”

greenhousesorstablesandwhereconstruc-

greenhousesorstablesandwhereconstruc-

“IguessI’lloverhaulmyhuman-naturetionofoneormorebuildingshadbeenre-yardstick,”Isaid.

cent,asevidencedbyfreshgradingworkaroundthebuildings.

“We’lltrythose,”Savagesaid.

THEfellowEdsing,theonewhohadn’t

“Damnit!”Monksaidsuddenly.“I’mgivenSavagesatisfactiononthephone,ar-worriedaboutHamBrooks!Whyhasn’therived.Hewasweighteddownwithsatisfac-reportedin?Somethinghashappenedtotionandanxioustodeliverit.Thesomebodyhim.”

inAlbanyhadcertainlybuiltafireonhiscoat-Isaid:“Thewayyou’vebeentalkingtail.

aboutthislawyerBrooks,IfigureyouratedEdsingwaswiththeNewYorkStatehimaboutthesameasabadsmellinyourHighway,DepartmentofPlanning—ajobhesocks.”

obviouslyfearedmightterminateasofto-

“Shutup!”Monksaid.

night—andhehadasuitcasefullofaërialTheyleftamessageforHamBrooksinphotographs.Itseemedthat,lastfall,hisde-casehecalled.TheytoldhimtheplacestheypartmenthadmadethepicturesasapartofweregoinginLongIsland,andwhy.Savagetheplanningforfuturehighwaydevelopment.

spokethisinformationintoagimmickthat26

DOCSAVAGE

recordedit,andMonktoldmethemachineHeglancedatmeasifIhadpulledthewouldputthewordsintothetelephonewhenrabbitoutofthehat.

HamBrookscalled,ifhecalledtheunlisted“Itcouldbe,”hesaid.

HamBrookscalled,ifhecalledtheunlisted“Itcouldbe,”hesaid.

phonenumberthecontraptionwashookedAnywaytheyweresomedetectives.

upto.Itookhiswordforit.

Theyhadjustaboutmadeabelieveroutof“Sammy,yougoalongwithus,”Docme.

Savagesaid.

“Why?”

Hedidn’tgivememuchsatisfaction.

ChapterVI

Monkwasmoreexplicit,iflessreassuring.

Hetoldme,“DocprobablythinksitalittleoddITwasthethirdhouse.Atthefirstthatyougotyourselfinallthisbychasingaplacewetried,anagedbutlerinanightshirtsweetvoiceyouheardoverthetelephone.”

waspolitetous,andatthesecondplacetwo“Yousawsweet-voice,didn’tyou?”IGreatDanedogsofferedtoeatusalive,ifaskedhim.

onewastobelievetheiruproar.Iwasabout“Sure.ButDocismorebabe-resistanttodroptheneedleonarecordingofI-told-thanyouandme,andheprobablyoveresti-you-so,butsomethingrestrainedme—matesourstrengthwhereonelikeMissFeni-probablycommonsensewasgettingatoe-songisconcerned.”

holdonme.

“Idon’tthinkIgotmuchstrengthwhereThenightwasstillwithus,andwouldshe’sconcerned,”Isaid.

beforanothertwohours,sincethiswasFeb-

“Youbettergetstrong,”headvisedme.

ruaryandthenightswerelong.Buttherewas“BecauseIlikedherlooks,andI’llwalkrightascatteringofsnowouthereinthecountryoveryou,yougetinmyway.”

thatmadethenightseemlessdark.Old“Thatfaceofyourswillscarehertosnow,scabstootoughforthesuntomelt,death,”Isaid.“Andifyoufoolwithme,thenowhard-frozen,crusty,shiny.Thedrivewayfacewilllookworse.”

whereitturnedoffhadathinglazeofice,Hewasn’tmuchimpressed.

andweskiddedacrossthatanduptoastoneIlookedattheclockasweleft.Onlygatehouseandapairofirongatesformida-twohours!Intwohoursthey

Onlygatehouseandapairofirongatesformida-twohours!Intwohourstheyhadtakenableenoughforapenitentiary.

piecetornoffaman’scoatandmadeitreadNothingmorethanourheadlightslikeabook.Ididn’tknowmuchaboutscien-broughtanoldmanoutofthegatehouse.Antificdetecting,butIwasimpressed.

oldmanwhowasasbigasabuffalo,tallerIsaid:“There’sonecrackbeenmadethanabuffaloandnearlyaswide,butasthinthatIdon’tget.”

andbony,andperhapsastough,ashe“Onlyone?”Monksaid,meaningthatwouldbeifconstructedofoaksticks.HewashewasthinkingaboutMissFenisongandwearinganenormousblackovercoat.Itdidn’tlikeme.

lookedlikeashroudonadeadtree.Hehad“SomebodysaidGrosswenttoschoolavoiceasdeep,asamiable,asaskullrollinginVienna,Austria,”Iexplained.“ThatoneIdownaroof.

can’tseethrough.”

“Goodmorning,”hesaid.“CanIbeofSavagesaid:“GrossattendedOs-someservice?”

terreichZoologischeUniversity,oratleastheSavageaskedhimwholivedhere.

hadatattoomarkinhisarmpitwhichwas“Theowneroftheestablishment,sir,”

affectedbytheZoologischestudentsduringsaidtheoldgiant.

theearlytwenties.Theideaofarmpittattoo-

“WouldhisnamebeAlbertGross?”

ing,insteadofaclass-ring,wasageneralSavageasked.

practice,andprecededtheNazipracticeofHebuttonedtheblackovercoat,doingarmpittattoostoidentifySSmen,ofwhichitslowly,takingtimetomeasureuswithayoumayhaveheard....Incidentally,youmicrometeranddoalittlethinking.Hishairdidn’tseethearmpitmarkonGross,norwasasgreyasanoldseagull,nearlyafoothaveIbutthepolicemedicalexaminerde-longandseemedtostickoutstraightfromhisscribeditaccuratelyoverthetelephone.”

seemedtostickoutstraightfromhisscribeditaccuratelyoverthetelephone.”

headeverywhere.Allheneededwasa

“FromAustria,huh?”Isaid.“Thatcouldscythe,andhecouldplayDeath.

meansomething,couldn’tit?”

“ThisisindeedtheresidenceofMr.AlbertGross,”hefinallyadmitted.

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

27HeputonewordafteranotherlikeaSuddenlytherewasmorenoiseinthemasonfittingarowofstonesinawall.Eachcarthananybodywanted.Theoldman’sgunwordwasfinelychiseled.Englishwasn’tthewasspeaking.Itspoketwice.Bothbulletshitlanguagehe’dheardinthecradle;Ihadbeentheleft-handwindow,flattenedandfellaway,introducedtothedetectivebusinesstonight,andsohelpmethewindowmerelyhadtwosoIdeducedthiswithconfidence.

smallsplatteredplaceswhereacoupleof“We’dliketoseeMr.Gross,”Savagehard-flyingandwell-fedbugsmighthavehit.

said.

Thenoldhard-as-nailsnolongerhadItwouldbequitesomethingifwedid,Ithemortar,andIdidn’thaveiteither.Savagethought.

hadtakenitawayfrombothofus.

“I’msorry.Mr.Grossisnothere,”saidTheoldmandrewback.Hedidn’trun,theoldtowerofbones.

butmerelywaited.

“Mr.McGraff?”

MonkMayfairspoketome.Hespoke“I’msorry.”

fluentlyformorethanaminute,givinghis“Mr.McCutcheon?”

opinionofmyimpulsiveness,notonewordfit“IndeedI’msorry,”saidtheoldman.

toprint.

“Mr.Gross,Mr.McGraffandMr.McCutcheon“You’reafool,”DocSavagetoldme.

leftforthecityearlythismorning—yesterday“Listen,gunsmakemejumpy,”I

leftforthecityearlythismorning—yesterday“Listen,gunsmakemejumpy,”Isaid.

morning,Imean—andhavenotreturned.”

“Where’dtheoldboygetitfrom,anyway?

DocSavageasked.“AndMissFeni-Onemomenthewasbare-handed,andthesong?”

nextonehewasloadedforbear.”

“AgainI’msorry.MissFenisong,I“Thecar,”DocSavagetoldme,“isknow,isanacquaintanceofMr.Gross—equippedwithadevicewhichdischargesanperhapshisniece,althoughIamnotsure—odorless,colorlessanaestheticgas.Hecouldbutshedoesnotlivehere,andisrathersel-havebeenovercomewithoutallthewild-domavisitor.Iregretbeingsodisappoint-west.”

ing.”

“Thegaswouldhavegotus,too,”IMonktookitup.“We’dcompromiseforsaid.

Mr.Spatny,”hesaid.

“No.Wemerelyholdourbreath,andin“Who?”

aboutfortysecondsthegasundergoesa“Don’tyouknowSpatny?”

chemicalreactionwiththeairandbecomes“I’mafraidIcan’thelpyou,sir.”Oldineffective.”

rack-of-bonesshrugged.Therewasagunin“Youcouldn’thavetoldmetoholdmyhishand,agunthatwasbigthewayhewasbreathwithouthimhearing,”Isaid.“You’dbig.“Unless,ofcourse,youprovetobehavegassedme,too,Isuppose.”

friendsofmine,”headded.

MonkMayfairsaid:“I’minfavorofdoingthatanyway!Itwouldbeagoodidea.Ivoteforit.”

HEputthecavernousmouthofhisfirearmintothecarwindowandletitlookatus.SavagehadrolleddownthewindowinWEgotoutofthecar.Itwascoldhereordertotalkwithhim.

inthecountry.Theoldman’sbreathcameIdon’tknowwhatgotintome.MaybeIfromhisleatherylipsasifhewasblowinghadjustseentoomuchpreposterousmagiccotton.Hesaid:“It’swarmerinthegate-foronenight,andthiswasthelaststraw.Ithouse,ifyouwouldcaretoconversethere.”

wasn’theroism.Iwasscaredcoldasakid“Wepreferthecar,”Savagesaid.

who’dbrokehisfirstwindow.ThefirstthingI“Climbin.”

knew,Ihadholdofthegunwithbothhands.

TheoldmanlimpedslightlyinhisleftThesecondImatchedstrengthwithlegashemoved.Hegotinthebackseattheoldman,IknewIwasgoingtoneedmywithme,andIwouldhaveassoonwelcomedrabbit-foot.Hewastoughlikeathirty-centaman-eatingtiger.MonkMayfaircamesteak.Tryingtotwisthisarmwasliketryingaroundandgotinwithus,searchedtheoldtodothesamethingtothelegofamule.Hegiant,andlookedoverwhathehadfound—ausedhisfreehandonmeandgavemeawallet,adunfromthelightcompany,aworseheadachethanI’dhadthatmorning.

crestedgoldcigarettelighter,andmorethanadozenbigfatwalnut-coloredcigars.

28

DOCSAVAGE

“Fifty-centers,”Monksaidofthecigars.

denseinthecold.ThenSpatnymoanedlike“AndhisnameseemstobeJ.HeronSpatny,ahoundthathadgroundglasswithhisdin-of1880VistaRoad.HisJanuarylightbillwasner.

eightdollarsseventy.Hehasslightlyover“Alfredisdead!Dasistzuarg!Ohmysevenhundreddollarsincash.”

God!”Hebroughthishandstohisface,andMonkmadeasecondsearch.Hedidn’tlongashisfacewas,hishandswouldspanfindaholster.“Wherewereyoucarryingtheit.Theyellowskinshowedbetweenthefin-gun?”

gers.“Isthistrue?”heblurted.Withoutwait-

“Why,itwasreposinginmysleeve,”

ingforananswer,headded,“Alfred—IwasSpatnysaid.

waitinghereforhim—heismyfriend.HeisinMonkgotoutandlookedinthegate-danger.Hetoldmesothismorning,andhouse,camebackandreported,“There’saaskedmeforhelp.Hemadeanappointmentrepeatingshotgunstandinginsidethedoor,tomeetmehere,secretly,atmidnight—afterwherehemighthavegrabbeditifwehadIagreedtohelphim.”

acceptedhisinvitationforaconferenceinSavagesaid:“Midnight?Ameetingthere.”

here?”

Theoldmanstirreduncomfortably.

Theoldmanstirreduncomfortably.

Thewordscameoutofthemountain-

“Really,you’reattributingmewithexcessiveousoldmanlikerainoutofacloud.Hisbloodthirstiness,”hecomplained.

namewasJ.HeronSpatny—theJ.wasfor“WouldyoucaretocorrectanyotherJemnost—andhewasaCzech,arefugee,wrongideaswemighthave?”SavageinfiveyearsinthiswonderfulUnitedStatesofquired.

America.HehadrefugeedviaVienna,Aus-Spatnysatwithbackbent,headtria,wherehehadmetAlbertGross—thenbowed.ButthetopofhisheadwasnearlywearingthenameofAlbertGrossberger—againstthetopofthecaranyway.Hewasunderawfullynicecircumstances.AlberthadtallerthanSavage.Hesaid:“First,wouldyouhelpedhimlamfromtheNazis,Igathered.

mindtellingmewhoyouare?”

HereinAmerica,SpatnyhadspentfourSavageintroducedhimself,MonkMay-yearsinthetravelingsalesmanbusinessinfairandme.ThenamesseemedtomeanFlorida,andoneyearhereinNewYorkinthenothingtotheoldAlp.

flowerbusiness.HehadashoponMadison“Idon’tknowyou,”Spatnysaidgloom-AvenuenearThirty-fourthStreet,hesaid.Heily.“That’smytrouble—Idon’tknowenoughwashappy,gettingrich,andAlfredGrossaboutanything.IfAlberthadjusttoldmehadturnedupafewmonthsago,andthey’dmore...Buthedidn’t.Albertwassoafraid,hadadelightfulreunion.

too.”

AlfredGrossdidn’tseemtohaveany“AlbertGross?”Savagesaid.

business,andhehadforpartnersinitMr.

Theoldmanliftedhishead;itwhackedMcGraffandMr.McCutcheon.Spatnyinti-thetopofthecar,andhelowereditagain.

mated

he

didn’t

like

McGraff

and

“YouknowAlbertGross?”

McCutcheon,didn’tthinkhighlyofthemei-Savagesaid:“Sammy,here,gotbetterther.Butthey,andAlbertGross,livedwellatacquaintedwithhimthantherestofus.”

thisestate,whichGrossprofessedtoown.

“Awonderfulchap,Albert,don’tyouSpatnythoughttheMacswererefugeestoo.

think?”Spatnysaidtome.

Threeidlerefugeesrollinginwealth,appar-

“Great,”Iagreed.“Veryquickwithaently.

raponthehead,thatAlbert.”

“Truthfully,Iimaginedtheyhadprofited“IwishwecouldgetholdofAlbertandwellinthebusinessofgettingrefugeesoutofhavehimvouchforyougentlemen,”SpatnyEurope,andhadsettleddowntoenjoythesaidthoughtfully.

fruitsoftheirlabors,”saidtheoldman.

Isaid:“HeoughttobeeasytogetholdYesterdayhisfriendAlbertGrosshadof.Buthe’salittledeadforvouching.”

calledonSpatny;they’dlunched,discussedTheoldmanjumpedwitheverymus-oldtimes,andGrosswasnoticeablyjerky.

cle.Herockedthecarlikearowboat.Think-Buttheyhadn’tdonebusinessyesterday—heinghewasstartingago-around,Iducked.

keptreferringtodaybeforeyesterdayasyes-Buthegaveonlytheonejump,sankbackinterday—andthenextdayGrosshadcalledtheseat,andlaidoffbreathingforawhile.Itonhimagain.Grosshadintimatedhewasinwasquietenoughtohearourbreathcon-apredicament,hislifewasindanger,andNOLIGHTTODIEBY

29therewasgreatdevilmentafoot.Wouldbeingpulled.Itwascold,andthecoldtookSpatnyhelphim?Inmemoryofoldtimeholdofmynoseandcheekslikesomebody’sspentdodgingNazis,Spatnywould.Themid-fingers.Ithoughtthatanestatelikethisnightappointmentwasmade,Spatnyhadshouldhaveservantsenougharoundtokeepkeptit,andherehewas—Grossnaturallythesidewalksshoveledofsnow.

hadn’tshown.

Savagesaid:“Here,Sammy.BetterputThatwaswhathehadtotellus.

thison.”Hewasofferingmeakindofajacket;Itookitanditwasalotheavierthanajacketshouldbe,butnotasheavyasIDOCSAVAGEchiseledonhimforthoughtitshouldbewhenIfoundoutwhatitmoredetails.Savageasked:“Whataboutwas.

MissFenisong?Yousaidshewasrelatedto“What’sthis?”Iasked.

Gross—hisniece?Wasthatstraight?”

“Bulletproofvest.”

Heconfessedhe’dmadethatup.He

“Waitaminute,”Isaid.“Doesanybodydidn’thavethespeckofanideawhoMissmindifIjuststartbacktoKansasCity?”

Fenisongwas.“Ididn’tknowwhoyouwere,“Putiton,”Savagesaid,andleanedaandIwaspretendingtobethegatekeeper,”

fingeragainstabutton.Wecouldhearasetheexplained.

ofchimesclanging,andnoothersoundfora“Whataboutthatchromosphericerup-while,andthenavoicesaidloudly—andtootiontonight?”Savagedemanded.

friendly—agreeting.

friendly—agreeting.

Theoldgiantmerelyhunghismouth“Comein,fellows,”thevoicesaid.“I’mopen.

gladyougothere.”

Isaid:“Andablackscare-babyintheSavagelookedatMonk.Monklookedstreet.Don’tforgetthatone.”

atSavage.TherewasacertainamountofNopay.

coöperationinthewaytheireyebrowswentSavageaskedhimhowhe’dliketoup,thendown,questioningly.

helpuspayavisittotheestate.Hesaidhe’d“HamBrooks?”Iasked.

likeitfine,andwantedtoknowexactlyhow“Hisvoice,anyway,”Monksaid.

AlbertGrosshaddied.Savagetoldhim“What’sthematter?”

aboutitwithoutreallytellinghimanything—“Toofriendly,”Monksaid.“Watch.”HejustthatGrosshadbeenfounddeadoflittleliftedhisvoiceandcalled,“Ham,thisisholesfollowingsomestrangedoingsataMonk.”

banquetforscientists.Meantime,Monkgot“Well,comein,oldpal,oldpal,”saidoutandfoundthelargeirongateswerethedeeporatoricalvoice.“Don’tstandoutlocked.

thereinthecold,oldfriend.”

Thegate-lockdidn’tstumpSavageMonkshookhishead.“Something’slong.Hepickedit.Healsofoundanalarmonwrong.Normallyhe’dinvitemetofreezetoit,andshort-circuitedthewiringsothethingdeath.”

wouldn’tdousanydirt.WedroveupalaneWewentinanyway.

thatcouldhavebeenthePennsylvaniaTurn-pike,andcametothemansion,thegreenhouse,thestables,agarage,servants’quar-HEwasamanIhadseenattheban-ters,toolhouses,guestcottageandafewquet,andnotrememberedaswellasIotherbuildings.Itwasstilldarknight;ifany-shouldhave.Hehadwideshoulders,atrimthing,itwasdarkerthanithadbeen.Cloudswaist;agood-

shoulders,atrimthing,itwasdarkerthanithadbeen.Cloudswaist;agood-lookingmanexceptforanlikesootrollshadmovedinoverhead.

overwidemouthandhairthatwasalittleSavageradioedthepolice.Heaskedslick,toowonderfullybarberedformytaste.

themtocheckuponMr.J.HeronSpatny,Heworefulldress—tails,whitetie—andIMadisonAvenueflorist.

hadsupposedonemonkeysuitwasaboutAtthat,theoldmanhissedoncelikealikeanother,butthisonehadclassandsnap.

viper.

IfoundoutlaterHamBrookswasreputed“I’mrelievedtofindyouareaffiliatedoneofthebest-dressedmeninNewYork,withthepolice,”hesaid,whichdidn’tfitwithbutIthinkIknewitthen.

thehiss.

Hesatinoneoftheparlors—thereWegotoutofthecar.Thesnowwouldbeseveralparlorsinahouselikegruntedunderourfeet,orsqueakedlikenailsthis—onagold-brocaded,purplevelvet,30

DOCSAVAGE

fringe-edgeddivanthatwaslargeenoughtoMyheadcameclearquickly,too;be-holdhalfadozenotheroccupants.Hedidn’tcauseatonceIknewthatSavagemusthavegetupandthegreatpleasureinhisvoiceusedsomeofthatgastheyhadtalkedabout,wasnotmatchedbytheexpressiononhisthestuffthatyoucouldn’tseenorsmell,thatfaceashesaid,“Comein,comein.Howwouldknockyou,butnotifyouheldyourmanyofyouarethere?Justfourofyou?Isbreathforaslongasfortyseconds.Ihadn’tthatall?”

heldmybreath.SavagehadhitmewithaMonksaid:“Welefttheothersoutsidehintthatwasasbigasascoop-shovel,butholdingthereindeer....Whatareyoupull-mylatchstringhadn’tbeenout.

ingoffHam?”

“Neveradullmoment.Oh,boy!”Isaid.

HamBrookssaidtooloudly,“NothingMonkMayfairsaid:“Youshouldhaveatall—unlessIwanttolearnwhetherornotletmeputhiminthebathtub.”HewastalkingI’mbulletproof.I’mquitesureI’mnot,sothetoHamBrooks,whowaslookingpleasedtestdoesn’tappeal.”

withtheworld,andwithasmuchofMiss“Huh?”

Fenisong’slegashecouldsee.

“IhavegreatfaithinmyjudgmentofMissFenisongstillslept.Whoeverhadhumannature,”HamBrooksadded.“Ihopeitpickedherupandarrangedherinthechairisn’tmisplaced.OtherwiseI’dhavearathershouldhavebeenawindow-dresserinoneofsadopinionofmyselfforinvitingyouin.”

thoseBroadwayshopsI’dnoticedthatday,Monkgotit.Hesaid:“Maleorfemale?”

theplaceswheresexyblackunderthings“Who?”

seemedtobetheprincipalarticleoftrade.

“Behindtheprettydivan,”Monksaid.

Asleep,shewasnice.IwaswideawakeinHamBrookssighedlikethefellowwhonotime.

haddecidedhewouldhavetoswimthe“Weoughttogettogetheronthesecreekwherethealligatorwas.Hesaid:“It’sthings,”Isaid.“Ifyou’vegotanymoretrickMissFenisong.”

gadgets,howaboutlettingmeknow?”

“Ah!”

HamBrooksexaminedme.Hedidn’t

“Indignantandwell-armed,”Hamexactlyfallonhisfacewithapproval.“Whoisadded.

thischap?”heasked.“Ataxidriver?”

Inthesilencethatfollowed,iffrowns“What’sthematterwithtaxidrivers?”I

Inthesilencethatfollowed,iffrowns“What’sthematterwithtaxidrivers?”Ihadhadmagneticproperties,thedivandemanded.

wouldhavebeenliftedandsuspended.MonkSavagetoldthedapperlawyerwhoIMayfairsaid:“Sammy,wouldyoucaretotrywas.Hecouldhavemademycharacteroutthepropertiesofyournewbulletproofstandoutalittlemoreinthetelling.

vestbybeingfirsttolookbehindthedivan?”

“MissFenisongisreviving,”Monkre-

“MissFenisongwouldn’tshootnicemarked,andthatputastoptomyhistory.

peoplelikeus,”Isaid.“Butnothanks,any-Wegatheredaroundandwaitedadmiringly.

way.”

Eventheoldgiant,Spatny,hadhisshouldersDocSavagesaid:“Atensesituationback.

likethismakesoneholdone’sbreath,SheawakenedthewayIhad.Quick.

doesn’tit?”

Clear-headed.ShearrangedherskirtmoreImissedthecue.Thefloorrockedalit-decorously,disappointingMonk.Shehadatle,steadied,cameupandrestedagainstmynaturalquestion.“Whathappened?”sheface,gentlyenough.Islept,butIdidn’twantedtoknow.

dreamofathing.

DocSavagesaid:“Mr.Brooksadvisesmethatyoutookhimunawares,menacedhimwithagun”—henoddedbrieflyata.25-ChapterVIIcaliberautomatic,blue,lady-size,onthetable—”andwereholdinghimhere,apparentlyAWAKENINGwasjustaspleasant—Ipendingthearrivaloffriends.”

swamupoutofnothingthatwassoftandnot“Unawares—nothing!”shesaid.“Heatallbad,andthereIwas,onanicetiledhadbeentrailingme.Hehadhiseyesopenfloor,withice-waterflyingintomyface.Nowideenough,

eyesopenfloor,withice-waterflyingintomyface.Nowideenough,particularlywhenIwasgettingheadache.Notmuchdizziness.Justafeelingoutofacabandthewindblewmyskirt.Iofhavingbeenafool.

mayhaveoutsmartedhim,buthewasclearlyawareIwasinexistence.”

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

31Shesawme,andsaid,“Oh,hello,Mr.

downinbrilliance,exactly,buttheychangedWales.I’mgladMr.Grossdidn’tdomuchtheeffect,gaveitadifferentcoloring,akindharmtoyou.”

ofbluishqualitythatseemedtogetinyour“It’sallrightwithmenow,”Isaid.“Ieyesandstaythere,asifyou’dbeenlookingshouldhavemadeitmoreclearthatIwasn’ttoolongandtoocloseatacop’suniform.

Mr.WalesthemoonexpertwhenIcametoSpatnycameover,stoodbesideme.

seeyouatyourhotel.”

HeseemedtobetwiceastallasIwas.

“I’msorryMr.Grosswasnasty,”sheSpatnysaid:“Whatisthis?”

said.“Itwasuncalledfor.I’mgoingtotellhim“Youtellme,”Isaid,andputmyfaceso,too.”

closetothewindowglassinordertoseehow“Thatwillbeahard—”

itlookedcomingthroughtheclouds.

DocSavage,cuttingaheadofmebe-

“Betternotlookdirectlyatit.ThereforeIcouldgiveanythingaway,said,“Didmightbeemanationsharmfultotheeyes.”

youleavethebanquetwithMr.Gross,MissThiswasSavage.Therewasplentyofalarm,Fenisong?”

ofthekindyoufeelwhenyou’relyinginaSheshookherhead.“No.Mr.Brooksshellholeandknowatankisgoingtoruncantellyouthat.”

overit,backofhiscalmness.

“Andyouhaven’tseenorheardofMr.

Ididn’twanttolookatitanylongerGrosssince?”

anyway.Therewassomethingcoming

“No.”

acrossthelawnthatIwantedtolookatalot“AndMr.

McGraff

and

Mr.

more.ItwasthirtyorfortyfeetindiameterMcCutcheon—whataboutthem?”

andasblackastheoriginalbadluckcat.

Shehesitated.WecouldseeshehadMonkMayfair,probablyintriguedbydecidednottotellusanything.

ourpetrifiedstances,cameoverandtookaHamBrookssaid:“Ithinkshewaslook.

waitinghereforGross,McGraffand“Avisitor,”hesaid.

McCutcheon.”

Hesoundedasifhisheadhadmovedaboutsixfeetfromhisbodytomakethestatement.

THEYwerebuildingMissFenisonguptoashockwhenshefoundoutGrosswasdead.Itwasallrightwithme;Ididn’tthinkSAVAGEsaid:“Gettothecar!Every-shewouldfeeltoobadly;itwasmyideathatbody!Quick!”

shehadn’tthoughttoomuchofGross.Still,IpickedupMissFenisong.Iwasthink-theguyhadbeenathomeinherroomattheingaboutGrossinherhotelroom,butIhotel,andhe’dorderedheraroundasifhepickedherupanyway.IbeatMonkMayfairtohadcertainrights....

itbyayard.

WhenSavagehadhersetup,andhadMonksaid:“Letastrongmancarryher,givenherachancetobecoöperativeandpanty-waist.”

shewouldn’t,hegavehertheGrossdeath.

“Ifyou’resostrong,”Isaid,“gooutandShefooledmeandprobablyallofus.

fightthatthingintheyard!”

Shefainted.

MonkshowedhowupsethewasbyIwastryingtothinkofonesinglenicebellowingatme,“Whatisthatthing?”

thingtothinkaboutwhathadprobablybeenIdidn’ttakethetroubletotellhimIherrelationshipwithGrosswhenHamdidn’tknow.IstartedwalkingoutoftheroomBrookslookedatthewindow,andsaid,“Say,withthegirl.Shedidn’tweighathinginmyit’sgettingdaylightinahurry,isn’tit?”

arms.Ididn’tweighanouncemyself.IwasSavagewenttothewindow,wentfast,soscaredIfloatedintheair.

andsaid,“It’snotdawn—unlessthesunisSpatnywentwithus.Theoldgiantwascomingupstraightoverhead.”Hesoundedactive,orhecouldn’thavemanagedthat—shocked.

wepassedthroughtheroomslikeantelope.

Itwasthatlightagain.NotquitetheTheoldman’srightfootmadealittlemorewayithadbeenearlierthatnight,whenwenoisethanhisleftfoothittingthefloor,be-sawitfromthehotelterrace,thirtyorsosto-causeofhislimp;Irememberthinkingitmustriesabovethestreet,andwithnocloudsbeagenuinelimp,orhewouldhaveforgot-abovethat.Thecloudsdidn’tseemtocutittenaboutitnow.Awfullygenuine.

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DOCSAVAGE

Therewasanotheroneinthefrontdoorsofglass.Hehadgonethroughoneofyard.

theseFrenchdoors,orwindows—justsimplyTwoblackscare-babies.

passedthroughit.

Thissecondonewaspoppa.AboutIwishedIhadbeenwithhim.

sixtyfeetacrossandnearlyashigh.ThereAndthenIdidn’t—fortheit-couldn’t-bewasatallAustralianpinetreeouttherethatintheyardbeganchasinghim.Theitdidn’tI’dnoticedwhenwearrivedthatwasallofmoverapidly,notasfastastheoldmanwasfiftyfeet,anditwashiddenbehindthisthing.

moving—possiblynothingcouldhavetrav-

“Perhaps,”Savagesaid,“webestnoteledquitethatfast—andittookaratherer-gooutside.”

raticS-shapedrouteacrossthegrounds.TheItwasallrightwithme.Theycouldn’tserpentinepathwaspuzzling....Itwasfol-haveshotmeoutintotheyardiftheyhadlowingasidewalk!Thatwasthereason!Itstuffedmeinacannon.Istillwasn’tweighingseemedtohavenolikingforthegrass,whichathing,andneitherwasmylovelyburden,wasawhitecarpetoffrostwhereitwasnotandifIstillhadaheartIcouldn’tfindit.

glazedoverwithsnow.ItkeptonthepavedSavagesaid:“Hasanyonegotagun?”

walkswhichsnakedacrossthegroundsinNoonehadagun.

almostanydirectiononecaredtotake.

Hewentbackafterthelittlepea-Monksaid:“I’mgoingtotrysome-shootertheyhadtakenfromthegirl.Idon’tthing.”Hebeganworkingatawindow,andthinkanyonelikedhisgoing;wedidn’twantgotitopen.Therewasastormsashandhetobeleftalonewiththegoblins.

threwthatupward—hehadonelegovertheOldmanSpatnymadeusabittersillwhenSavagecamein,demanding,“Whatspeech.“Noguns!”hesaid.“Dasistzuarg!

areyoudoing?”

Noguns!Ofalltheunequippedfools!When

“Theoldguyran—”

thereissuchdanger,nottohavearmed

“Stayinhere,”Savagesaid.Heyourselves—youareimbeciles!Iwasbegin-seemedconfidenthisinstructionswouldbeningtoadmireyourmethods,butyouhavefollowed,becausehewentbacktotheotherdisappointedmegrievously.Noguns!Dis-partofthehouse,thepartwherehehadgusting!Surelyitshouldhaveoccurredtobeen,andhislittlegunwentpip!again.Thisyouto—”

timetherewasadeepbassrejoinder—arifleHestoppedexpressingmyopinionshadbeenfiredathim,ariflethatwasplentyandhis,andtookoff.Hejustseemedtosplitofgunbecausewecouldhearplasterfallingattheseams,andwhatcameoutwasaction.

offatleastthreewallsthatthebullethadHewantedtogetawayfromthere,andhegonethrough.

did.Iwasundertheimpressionhewentthroughdoorswithouttroublingtoopenthem,butthatmusthavebeenanillusion,becauseTHEoldgiantscreamed.Offthereintherewerenosplintersintheairafterhehadthegarishphonymoonlightsomewhere,hegone.

criedout....Iwentbig-gamehuntingin

“Catchhim!”Monkyelled.

Wyomingonetime—well,atleastIwas

“Catchhimyourself,”Hamsaid.“Imaythere;Iwasthebig-shot’schauffeur—andfollowhisexample.”

thecoyotesoccasionallyhowledaroundtheWeheardthelittlegungopip!inan-campinthenight,andIthinkthatcoyoteotherpartofthehouse.Savagehadstartedhowlingisthemostghastlysoundthereis.

shooting.ItwasanutterlyinadequatelittleThissoundoldSpatnymadewassomethingnoise,itstruckme.

similar.ItmademyteethfeelasiftheywereTheoldgiantwascrashingandbang-onagrindstone.

ingdoorsinthebackofthemansionsome-Fiveseconds,ten,aftertheoldmanki-where.Hisflighthadthesedatenessofabullyoodled,theblackbusinesswasgone.Itwasinacrockeryshop.Theterminusoftheup-outthereinthetreesandshrubbery;itgotroarwasaparticularlyloudjanglingcrashofsmaller.Itwaslikeablackballoonwiththeglass—andIhappenedtobestandingwhereairgoingout,excepttherewasnonoise.InaIcouldseewhatSpatnyhaddone.Theman-trifleoftime,itwassmallerthanthetreesandsionwasT-shaped,andwewereinthestemwecouldn’tseeitatall.

oftheT,theoldmanhadcomeintotheleftMonksaidhoarsely,“ThepooroldarmoftheT,wheretherewerelargeFrenchdevil!”Hewheeledandranthroughrooms.

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

33HewaslookingforDocSavagetotellhimNobodyagreedwithme,butMonkwhathadhappened.

said,“It’sgoodtobeignorant,becauseigno-Savagewasinalargeroom,anenor-ranceisbliss.”

mousroomthatwasastatediningroomoraPresentlyitbegantogetalittlelighterballroomorpossiblyboth.Hewasthrowingoutside,butthislightdidn’tscareanyone.Itsmallstuff—vases,statuettes,lightchairs—wasthedawn.Itcametousquiteslowlyandattheceilingfixturetryingtoputouttheillu-normally,asdaylightshouldcome.Theminationintheroom.

cloudsweren’tasthickintheskyasIhadSavagesaid:“Watchout!Keepawaythought.Theywerecumulous,athinlayeroffromthewindows!”

cotton-ballclouds.

HamBrookssaid:“Why—”

Savagesaid:“Iguessit’ssafetolookThreebulletscamein,givinghimanfortracks.”

answer.Theydugholesinapicture,walls,Ifhemeantfootprints,thereweren’tandinourpeaceofmind.Therewasveryany.AtleastnoneIcouldsee,andIheardlittleofthelatterleft.IlistenedcloselytotheMonkandHamtellingeachothertheredidn’tsoundoftheweaponoutdoors,andIfiguredseemtobeatrace—otherthanthewidelyaboutthreeyearsspentduringthewarlisten-spacedprints,alittlelikethoseofahard-ingtogunswhackmademeanauthority,soIpushedjackrabbit,thatoldSpatnyhadmadesaid:“Arifle,a.30-06caliberandprobablyaleavingthehouse.WetrailedhimthroughamodelM1.”

neatlytrimmedwoodstoablack-toppedMonkMayfairsaid,“Shorterbarrel,Iroad,andthatwastheendofhistrail.Therethinkfromthesharpersound.Morelikelyawerenosignsofastruggle.Theblack-topcarbine.Thoseshortgunsalwaystalklikeahadn’tretainedatrail—thesunofthelastfewshortman,toobigfortheirbritches.”

dayshadmeltedthesnowofftheroad,asitHewasprobablyrightatthat.

hadoffthesidewalksthatturkey-trackedtheThephonymoonlightwentaway.Itjustestate.

diedout.Notinstantly—theprocessofgoingMissFenisonghadmissedoutonourtookasecondortwo;itwaslikewhenyouvisitationfromthequeerlightandtheblackthrowabucketofwaterintheair;afewno-such-things.Itoldheraboutit.Shewasdropsarealwayslatereachingtheground.

sobeautifulthatIgottothinkingaboutherThenitwasdark.

andGross,andIsaidmostofthelastpartofitthroughmyteeth.

Shelistenedwithoutaword,thenITseemedtobeoverforthetimebe-asked,“HowdidAlbertdie?”

ing.WepickedoutdifferentwindowsanddidItoldherthat.Maybemytonepartlyplentyofcautiouslookingandlistening,butconveyedthatitwasgoingtobehardformeoutdoorsithadbecomeanormalnightagain.

toshedtearsaboutGrossnotbeingoneofMissFenisongawakened.Shedidn’tusanylonger.

havemuchtosay—wehaddousedallthe

“Albertwasmyhalf-brother,”shesaid.

lightsinthehouseinordertoseeoutintothe

“Huh?”

nightbetter,andapparentlyshethoughtat

“Mymotherwasfirstmarriedinfirstthatshewasaloneinthemansion,be-Czechoslovakia,andseparatedfromhercauseshebegantryingtostumblearound.

husband,leavingherbaby—Albert—withherSavagetoldher,“Bettersitandrest,MisshusbandwhenhegotcustodyofthechildinFenisong.”

rest,MisshusbandwhenhegotcustodyofthechildinFenisong.”

court.ShecametotheUnitedStates,mar-Shedidthat.

riedagaintoamannamedFenisong,andIIbrokeoutintocoolsweatandhadawasherchildbythesecondmarriage.”

coupleofchills,areactionfromwhathadIwassopleasedIcouldn’thavehitthehappened.ItwastheworstwhenIthoughtoffloorwithmyhat.Iwasn’tevenabletokeephowtheoldgianthadyelledoutthereinthemyfeetonthefloor;itwasalmostthesamenightwhenthatimpossiblepatchofblack-thingasawhileago,whenIhadbeensonesshadovertakenhim.Isaid:“Nobodyisscared.

goingtotellmethatwasstraightstuff,not

“Savage!”Iyelled.“Comehere!”

anythingthatfantastic.It’sagagofsomesort.It’sgottobe.”

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DOCSAVAGE

HERparents—motherandsecondtobescientificabout,andsoshehadreadhusbandnamedFenisong—haddiednaturaluponlunartheory,and,findingitwasquitedeathstwoandsevenyearsago.Fenisong,involvedandmathematical,theyhadnegotianartgalleryoperator,hadbeenwell-to-do,atedforacoachnamedWales.ThatwasandPaulaFenisonghadinheritedhismoney,howIgotintoit.

whichexplainedhowshewasabletoliveinaShetoldallofitwithoutcoaching,saidplaceliketheParkside-Regent.Shehadonlythatwasallsheknew,andansweredSav-livedthereacoupleofweeks,havingmovedage’squestions.Hewantedtoknowwhatthefromanevenmoreexpensiveplace,whichstrangelightwas,whattheblackthingswere,accountedforhernotbeingwellknowntothewhoSpatnywas,andwherethetwoMacsmanagement.

couldbefound,andwhothetwoMacswere.

Thehalf-brother,AlbertGross,hadNegativeanswerstoallthis.She’dtoldusalllookedherupmorethanayearago.Hehadshehad.

changedhisnamefromGrossbergerto“Mindre-tellingittoaliedetector?”

Gross,migratedfromAustria—hesaidheSavageasked.

hadbeenlivinginAustriaforseveralyears,“Nowwaitaminute!”Isaid.“It’snothavingleftCzechoslovakiatoescapetheanyfuntohavethatgadgetstrappedtoyoudominationofhisfather,whowasatyrantand—”

andaNazitoboot—andhadanicestampThetoo-sweetding-dong-bongofthebusinessinNewYork.Hedealtinraredoorchimesinterruptedme.Monkwenttostamps,findingandbuyingthemonorderforthedoor.Weheardhimswearamightyoath.

wealthycollectors.Therehadbeennospe-Hesoundedlikeapiratewhohadsightedcialclosenessbetweenbrotherandsister—twotreasure-ladengalleons.

orhalf-brotherandhalf-sister—whichwasMonk,wearingagrinthatpushedhisnaturalsincetheyhadneverseeneachotherearstogetheratthebackofhishead,before,butthey’dhaddinnertogetherafewbroughtthecompanyinsideandintroducedtimes,andtherelationshiphadbeenallright.

themas:“Ourtwolostsheep!”

Notclose,butfriendly.

ThetwoMacswerereadyandwillingShehadnot,atthistime,metMcGrafftotellusplentyofnothing.McGraff—theorMcCutcheon.

shorteronewiththelesserredface—madeThathadcomeafewdaysagowhenmostofthespeech.McCutcheonconfinedGrosscametoherandsaidthatheneededhimselftohead-nodding,orsaying,“Thatisherhelp.Hewantedhertogetacquaintedcorrect!”inafinebaritonevoice.

withDocSavage,andseethathetookalookAlbertGrosshadbeentheirpal.HeatthemoonfromtheterraceoftheParkside-hadaskedthemtohelphimgetSavagetoRegentatpreciselyfifteenminutespastlookatthemoonat7:15p.m.Grosshadn’tseveno’clock.MissFenisonghad—orshesaidwhy.

saidshehad,andIforonebelievedher—Theyhadpickedonmebecausetheybeenunderstandablyreluctantandcurious.

feltIwasnofriendofAlbertGross—thatHerhesitancyhadbeenovercomebyAlbertmuchofwhattheysaidwascertainlytrue.

Gross’sprotestationsthatthiswasatremen-TheyhadcomeoutheretoseeAlbert.

dousthing,vitallyimportanttoagreatmanyTheydidn’tknowhewasdead....Dead!

Dead!

people—andfinally,whenhebrokedownAlbertdead?Howawful!Theyblewtheirandtoldhertherewasadevilishplotafootnosesintohandkerchiefs.Theywouldn’trestandthathecouldn’tgototheauthoritiesuntiltheirfriend’smurdererwasfound.

aboutitbecausehe,AlbertGross,wasanNever!

McGraff

said

this

first,

then

alienillegallyresidentintheUnitedStates,McCutcheonsaidit.

shehadagreedtodecoyDocSavage,seeSavageasked:“Wecandependonthathewasontheterraceandlookingattheyourhelp?”

moonatsevenfifteen.

“Emphatically!”

GrosshadimpressedherwiththefactIopenedmymouthtosaylet’strythethatDocSavagewasanextraordinarysort,liedetectoronthem.ButIdidn’t,becausewaryoffemininetraps,andthatthebestwayMonkMayfairkickedmeontheshin.JustofgettinghisinterestwastobeveryeruditebeforethatIhadbeensmilingatMissFeni-andscientific.Consideringthecircum-song,andMonkkickedalotharderthanstances,themoonseemedalogicalsubjectnecessary.

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

35

ChapterVIII

Savagehadnocomment.MissFenisonghadentered,apartofthelie-detectorTHEnextfivehourswereproductiveofhangingtoherarm,towatch.Ifeltaboutasnothing.ThepolicecametotheLongIslandheroicassomeofthoseguyswesawafterestate,listenedtothefacts,whichtheynatu-wegotintoGermany.

rallydidn’tbelieve,andwerepoliteaboutit“Youtwohadbettershakehands,”

all.

HamBrookssuggested.

McGraffandMcCutcheonseemedsur-

“Andgetmyarmtornoff?”Isaid.“Notprisinglywillingtobelockedupifthepoliceme.”

wanteditthatway.WhenDocSavagesaidthathewouldliketohavethemalongsotheycouldbeaskedmorequestions,theywereTHAThappenedaboutnineo’clock,agreeabletothatalso.Butnomoreagree-andbytenIwouldn’thavebidhighontheablethantheyweretobeinginjail.

chancesoffindinganymoreanswersthanIsaid:“Idon’tmakethemtwoguyswealreadyhad.Thelatter,everyoneseemedout.”

tofeel,werenegligible.

“They’rescaredstiff,youdope,”MonkMissFenisongcamethroughthelie-said.“Theywantprotectors.Eitherusorthedetectorwithflyingcolors.Shewasmostpolicewilldo.”

coöperative,evenlettingMonkMayfairaskThisdidseemlogical.

herafewpersonalquestionswhichhadnoWeallwent—exceptingthepolice,of

herafewpersonalquestionswhichhadnoWeallwent—exceptingthepolice,ofbearingonthemystery,butwerequestionsIcourse—toDocSavage’sheadquartersonwantedansweredtoo.

theeighty-sixthfloorofthatmidtownbuilding.

“Okay,”Isaid,gettingMonkintoacor-WhiletheyhadMissFenisonginthelibrary,nerafterward.“Isshefancyfree?”

fittingtheliedetectortoher,IgotmyselfHesaid:“You’reoutofluck.She’smar-aloneinthereceptionroomwithtallMac.IhitriedtoaguynamedCulpepper,anengineerhim.Ibeganwithalightchair,figuringitwhoisinSouthAmericabuildingabananawouldsoftenhimup.

plantation.”

Maybeaheavierchairwouldhave

“That’soilfromsomeofhisbananasbeenabetteridea.Perhapsnot.Fromtheyou’regivingme,”Isaid.Ihadseenhimlook-unhamperedqualityofhisreactions,asix-ingatthewigglymarktheliedetectorhadteenpoundsledgewouldhardlyhavebeenmade,andgrinning.

adequate.Hewasalloverme.IwasontheDocSavagehadbeentinkeringwithfloor.ThebestIcoulddowaskeephimontheliedetector.Hewasfrowning.“Ham,”hethefloorwithme.

called,“haveweanextrathirdstagebypassMonkMayfaircamein.Allhedidwaselectronictube?Thisonehasbeengettingwatchadmiringly.Allhesaidwas:“I’vepaidweakerandweaker,andseemstohavetenbucksringside,andseenless.”

givenout.”

HamBrookscameintoo,andhisatti-HamBrookssaid:“Idon’tknowofatudewasaboutthesame.Abitmoreclinical,wayofgettingoneofthatspecialtypeshortperhaps,becauseheremarked:“Thetech-ofPittsburgh,wherethey’remade.”

niqueiscertainlyoriginalBushidojudo.”

Savagegotonthetelephoneandor-Iwastoobusytoevenaskforhelp,al-dered

Savagegotonthetelephoneandor-Iwastoobusytoevenaskforhelp,al-deredonefromPittsburgh,directingitbeair-thoughIoutweighedthetallMacatleastmailed.

thirtypounds.Mostofwhathewasdoingto“Theycan’tgetitherebeforelateaf-mehedidwiththetipsofhisfingers,theternoon,”hereported.TurningtotheMacs,edgeofhishand,andalotofthetimeheheadded,“Weintend,ofcourse,togiveyouhandledmesothatIseemedtobedoingittotwogentlemenalie-detectortest.Igathermyself.

youhavenoobjections.Unfortunately,ourItwascertainlyarelieftohaveSavageapparatusisoutofcommission,andwe’llcomeinanddetachmyintendedvictimfromhavetopostponeituntilthisevening.”

me.

TheMacsdidn’tseematallunhappy.

Myexcusewas:“Thatguystartedthe“Thepoliceusethemthings,don’tbeatingIgotatthehotelbystickinghisfin-they?”Idemanded.“Whynotborrowone?”

gersinmyeyes.Hehadpepperonhisfin-Savageshookhishead.“I’minclinedtogers,remember?”

distrusttheaccuracyofthetypetheyhave.”

36

DOCSAVAGE

HamBrooksgotmeasideandsaid:selftoshoweitherrespectforthedepartedor“Keepyoursmartsuggestionstoyourself,politenesstotheliving.

pumpkin-seed.”

Aroundeleveno’clockIaccidentally

“Oh!”Isaid.

happenedtooverhearaconversationbetweentheMacsandMissFenisong.Thisaccidentalbitofnewswasinteresting,evenifIFtheywerefixingsomethingforthetheonlyaccidentaboutitwasthattheydidn’tMacs,SherlockHolmesandhismagnifyinghappentohearmeeasealongbehindarowglasscouldn’thaveseenwhatitwas.Rela-ofbookcasesinthelibraryuntilIwasinear-tionsweremostamiable.

shot.ForonceIwaslight-footedasaleaf.

It

was

one

of

the

Macs—

ShortMac—McGraff—wassaying,“—

ShortMac—McGraff—wassaying,“—

McCutcheon—whosuggestedthatweallnotdenyforamomentyourcontentionthatstaytogether,whichpossiblysavedDocthemanhaspersonality,apresence,andSavagefrommakingthesamemotion.

surroundings.”Hegesturedatthesurround-McCutcheonusedtoomanywordstosayings,added,“Thislayout,asyoucansee,that,althoughherealizedthefactsdidnotcostafortune.HowdoesSavageexplainit?

substantiatethebelieffully,itwasconceiv-Why,onthebasisthatheneedssuchlabora-ablethatwemightallbeindanger,notsotoryandresearchfacilitiesforhisprofession,muchbecauseofwhatweknew,butbe-whichisrightingwrongsandpunishingevil-causeourantagonist—man,machine,ordoers—tousethewordsIheardsomebodyman-from-Mars,whicheveritwas—mightfeelspeak.NowIaskyou—whatdoyouthinkofthatweknewmorethanwedid.Inviewofthatforaprofession?”

suchhypotheticaldanger,perhapsweshould“I—well—itseemsunusual,”Misssticktogetherformutualprotection.SavageFenisongsaid.

agreeditwasasoundidea,sowestuckto-Theyalreadyhadherdoubtful.

gether.

Wehadbreakfast—discoveringthatSavagehadhisownfoodprivatelypre-McGRAFFclosedwithher,sellinghispared—andsomeofustriedtosleep.Ipropositionatfullspeed.Hesaid:“Look,howhadn’thadawinklastnight,myeyesfeltlikeoldareyou,Paula?Twenty-three?Let’ssaygolfballsandmytonguetastedlikelastyou’retwenty-three,thatyou’vebeenaroundweek’scigarstub,butIwasabletogetjustthisworldthatmanyyears.ThenIwanttoasmuchsleepaseveryoneelse—noneataskyouhowmanyknightsinshiningarmor,all.

goodfairies,orjustplainGoodSamaritans“Doyoumindnothangingaroundinyou’vemetinthattime.”

here?”SavageaskedwhenItriedstanding“I’vemetsomeSamaritans,”shesaid,aroundinthelaboratory.

aroundinthelaboratory.

notentirelywithhimyet.

Thebigbronzemanhaddroppedeve-

“Well,it’sridiculous!Agrownman,rythingtoworkonsomekindofacontrap-rightingwrongsforacareer!Evenwithsalt,Ition,andIwascuriousaboutwhatitwas.

can’ttakethat,”McGraffsaid.

“GokeepMissFenisongcompany,”heMissFenisongfrowned.“Whatareyouadded.

gettingat?”

Ilikedtheadvice,buttheMacswere“Somethingprettyserious,”hetoldher.

movinginonthatterritory.Theyhadsmooth“It’sthis:WhydoyousupposeAlbertwasmanners,voicesasconfidence-buildingasinterestedinDocSavage—andsosecretiveinsurancesalesmen,theydidn’tfindtheiraboutit?Doesn’tthatstrikeyouaspeculiar?”

workunpleasant,andtheyhadanadditional“Itcertainlydid.”Shewasemphaticadvantageinhavingknownthedeceasedaboutthat.

half-brother.Theydidplentywiththelast,“Maybe,”saidMcGraff,“AlbertknewbuildingGrossupasagreatguy,theirpal,awhathewasdoinginbeingsecretive.”

fellowwhohadbeenkindtodumbanimals.

“Oh!”

Itisnotsupposedtobecricketto“Yeah—maybeitwasSavagewhomspeakillofthedead,butAlbertGrosswasAlbertwasafraidof,”saidMcGraffgrimly.

downinmybookasalargestinker.Right“McCutcheonandIknowAlbert—andwealongsidehimweretheMacs.Ididnotpar-knowhewasashonestasaJulydayislong.

ticipateintheconversation,nottrustingmy-Albertwasnocrook;Idon’tcare

ticipateintheconversation,nottrustingmy-Albertwasnocrook;Idon’tcarewhathap-NOLIGHTTODIEBY

37pens,Paula,youcanbetonAlbert.Now,them,andMissFenisonghadn’tseenthem..

Albertwasafraidofsomeone,andtheper-

..

sonhewasinvestigatingwasDocSavage.

MonkMayfair,thebigchew,cameintoThatmusthavebeenwhatAlbertwasdo-thelibraryyelling,“Sammy!Hey,Sammy!

ing—investigatingDocSavage.That’sWhereareyou,shining-eyes?”AndIhadaprobablywhyhewantedSavageontheter-busythreesecondsmovingdowntotheraceofthehotelat7:15.HewantedtowatchotherendofthelibrarywhereIcouldcall,“ISavage’sreaction.Albertprobablyfeltthat,wasjustcominginheretogetabook.WhatbyobservingSavage,hecouldseewhetherdoyouwant?”Asinnocentasanything.

themanwasguilty.”

“Youcouldn’tunderstandanyoftheseMissFenisongwassilent.Ashockedbooks,”Monksaid.“Docsaysyoucanbeatitsilence,Igathered.Likemyown.

ifyouwantto.He’sdecidedyou’reinnocent“Becauseofwhathehaddone,Albertenough.”

gotkilled,”saidMcGraff.“Albertwasinvesti-

“OnwhattheorydoeshefigureI’mgatingSavage,andhegotkilled.Now,whohonest?”

wouldbelikelytokillhim?Let’sbepractical.

“Searchme.OnthetheorynoevilcanLet’snotdream.Let’ssaythelogicalonetogrowinanivoryball,Iguess.”

knockhimoffwasSavage.”

Fromtheotherendofthelibrary,be-ShemusthavelookedprettyupsetathindthebigbookcaseswheretheMacshadthat,becausethelongMacjumpedintothebeendoingthatsellingjobonMissFenisong,sellingjob.Hisvoicesoundedasifhehadtherewasn’tasound.Theywereasquietasbeenoilingandpreeningitwhilehewaited.

themouseafterthecatateit.

McCutcheonsaid:“Mr.McGraffandI“No,thanks,”ItoldMonk.“I’llstickhavediscussedthisSpatnychap,andwe’vearound.”

concludedhemustbewhathesaidhewas—“Noneedtotroubleyourself,”hesaid.

anothergoodfriendofAlbert’s.Andhe,too,“Oh,you’rerealeducational,andIlikemetfoulplay.”

it,”Isaid,andleered,meaningtolethim“ButMr.Savagedidn’thaveanythingknowthatIknewthemainideawithhimwastodowithwhathappenedtoSpatny!”shetogetmeoutofcompetitionforlovely-voice.

objected.

IknewwhattheMacsweredoingwiththesilence—sneering.

SAVAGElistenedtomepatiently—but

“Howdoyouknow,mydear?”

without,Ihadafeeling,removingmorethanMcCutcheonasked.“Youwereunconscious,twopercentofhisattentionfromsomethingwereyounot?YouhadfaintedfromthepurplishthatwashappeningtosomethingshockoflearningAlbertwasdead.”

liquidyellowishinaglassthingIhadheardHerindrawnbreathwaslikefeargoingcalledawashbottle.

intoacoldroom.

Isaid:“You’rebeingsolddownthe“Uh-huh,”saidMcGraff.“That’sit.

riverbytwotermites.TheMacsareboringThat’sthepointwe’remaking....We,thefromwithin.”

threeofus,maybeinjustasmuchdangerHeaskedwhatImeant,andItoldhim.

asAlbertwas—andnotfromsomemysteri-

“Indeed?”hesaid.

ousmumbo-jumbo.FromSavage!”

“Therats,”Isaid.

McCutcheonlaughedaboutasuglya

“Oh,theywereonlydoingsomenaturallaughasyoucouldtakeoutofacoffin.Heconjecturing,”hesaid.

said:“Youdon’tforamomentbelievethis“Theywereconjecturingacoatoftarmumbo-jumboaboutblackthingsfiftyfeetontoyou,asfarasthegirlisconcerned,”Ihigh,doyou?”

said.“Ifyou’vegotabaseballbataroundThatwassomethingMissFenisonghereIcanborrow,I’lldoalittlemissionaryhadn’tthoughtof.Itwasagoodargument,aworkontheMacs.”

fineclincher,too.ThebestargumentisoneSavagesaid:“Thetechniqueofyoucan’tanswerwithoutseemingafool,andBushidojudowhichMcGraffdemonstratedthisonewasthat.Whowaswillingtobelieveincludesquitearepertoryofmovesfordis-therewereblackspooksfiftyfeethigh?Theyarminganopponentarmedwithaclub,inwerehardtobelievewhenyouhadseencaseyouareinterested.”

38

DOCSAVAGE

“Yeah,butthealleywillbedarknextabouttheshields;theywereofplexiglasstime,”Isaid.“Thanksforthenote,though.”

shapedlikewelder’smasks.Thegrinderop-

“Iappreciateyourinterest.”

eratorsinthebomberplantinKansasCity,“Aren’tyougonnatakestepsaboutKansas,whereIworkedbeforethearmygotthis?”

mehadwornsimilartransparentmasks.

Hesaid:“Ifyoudon’thappentonoticeSavagesaid:“Wewon’tbetechnical..

any

counter-moves

don’tfeelunduly

..Attheotherendoftheroomisatransmit-alarmed.”

terofmicro-wavelengths,builtonlaboratoryIfeltbetter.“ThisguyMonkistryingtoscale—which,incidentally,isasfaraswechaseme.Whataboutthat?”

havebeenabletoprogressintheresearch“Wanttopullout?”

field—probablysimilartotheonebeingused

“Well,no.Ihaven’tgotahome,buttocausetheeffectwerefertoaschromos-that’snotwhyIdon’twanttogotoit.”Myphericeruptions.Ithastobesimilar,

that’snotwhyIdon’twanttogotoit.”Myphericeruptions.Ithastobesimilar,infact.

earsgotredandIhadtroublewithmywordsTheothertransmitterisenormouslymorelikethetoughkidstandinginfrontofthepowerful,however.”

classwhileteachermadehimadmitheHeshowedusalargeglassbottle—pulledMary’spigtailbecausehelikedMary.

aboutfive-gallonsize—surroundedbymag-

“MissFenisonghashappenedtosayacou-netsandstuff.

pleofnicewordstome.That’stherockMonk

“Airhasbeenpumpedoutofthebottle,ischewingon.”

andcertainelementsintroduced,andmag-

“Stickaround,then,”hesaid,andIneticeffectsapplied,sothatwehaveherewalkedoutoftherewiththelittlewingsonmywhatamountstoabottledbitofthestrato-feethelpingmealong.Hewasonmyside.

spherelayerwheretheeffectswesawlastTheMonkmusthavegiventroublebeforenightwereproduced.”

withhischasing.

Hesaidhewoulddemonstrate.Heturnedonthemachine.Theresultwasnotanythingtostandmyhaironend;thetrans-SIXhourspassedanditwasfivemittercontraptionjustlituplikearadio.

o’clock,alongtimelater.ItprobablyseemedTherewasnoparticularsound.

longerthanitwas.Thetelephonehaddone“Noticetheinteriorofthebottle,”Sav-plentyofringing,butitwaseitherthepoliceagesaid.

orDoctorHodges,thescientist,andtheyhadThebottlewasglowingwithapproxi-nodevelopmentstoreport.Theyonlywantedmatelythesamequalityofghost-lightthattoknowiftherehadbeenany.Theyseemedhadappearedintheskylastnight.

tofeelthatDocSavagewastaking,forhim,“Now,”headded,“wewillrecreatetheanunusuallylongtimetoshowresults.

fieldofneutralization.”

“Comeintothelaboratory,”SavageHethrewaswitch,andthesecondsaid.

pieceofapparatusproceededtogivemeaHelookedhard-used.Hisfingersweremildcaseofcoldtracksupanddownthestainedfromchemicals,hisshirtwaswrin-back....Anoticeabledarknesshadap-kled,andsheetsofnoteswerestickingoutofpearedaroundthething.

hispocketswherehehadabsentlystuffedSavagesaid:“Turnoutthelights,drawthem.

thecurtain,andtheimpressiononewouldThelaboratorywastoofullofcompli-getisofafuzzyblackareacompletelyenvel-catedgadgets—Ididn’tnoticethatanythingopingtheneutralizingtransmitter.Simplynewhadbeenadded,notuntilhepointedoutstated—thevisiblewavelengthsoflightaretwoclustersofapparatus—wires,tubes,nolongerpresent,havingbeenbrokenupthingsthatlookedlikeacompositionofallthearoundashortarea,andwhatwehaveleftisradartransmittersIhadeverseenintheapatchofthenormaldarknessofthenight.”

army—attheotherendofthelaboratory.

“Hey!”Isaid.“Youmeantherewasn’tTherewasaclearedspacethere.Neareratanyblackcan’t-believe-its?”

handwasasmallerportablegadgetinabox

“Exactly.Whatwesawwasmerelyahastilyimprovisedfromabigsuitcase.

smallareaofnormalnight.Itlookedspec-Savagedistributedeye-protectors,say-tacularbecauseitwassomethingwewereing,“Betterputthemon,incasethereshouldnotaccustomedto.Weareperfectlyfamiliarbeflyingglass.”TherewasnothingunusualNOLIGHTTODIEBY

39withmakingalightinthenight.Butmaking“Thatshouldanswerthequestionofnightinthelightissomethingdifferent.”

whetherthestreetwasdimlylightedenoughIthinkIadmitteditwasdifferent,allfortheblack‘thing’effecttobeachieved,”

right.

Savagesaid.

TheMacssubsided.Theydidn’twantto,buttheysawtheyweregettingnowhere,SAVAGEwasspeakingnaturallyandandprobablyfeltthattheyhadmadetheirevenusingatonethatimpliedtherewasstillpointforMissFenisong—thatSavagecouldagreatdealhedidn’tknowaboutthething,belying.

buthewasbecomingimpressiveasany-

“Now,”Savagecontinued,“wehavething.TheMacsdidnotlikethat;bothofproducedthechromosphericeruptiononathemwereglancingatMissFenisongdubi-laboratoryscale,provingwehavethefun-ously,andtheadmirationonherfacedidnotdamentalsofthesystemused.Andwehavecheerthem.ThelongMacbegantearingitademonstrationoftheneutralizationofthedown.Hesaid:“Mr.Savage,youadmitbeingvisiblespectrumoftheemanationstoindi-presentwhenAlbertGrossdiedlastnight”—catehowtheeffectofblackshapelessob-hegavethatsomeextrameaning—”andyoujectswasproduced.Ifyou’llsteptotheothersaid,Ibelieve,thatitwasacitystreetwhereendoftheroom...”

ithappened.Thestreetnearthehotel.Now,Hehadtheotherpieceofapparatus,you’renottellingustherewouldbethedark-thestuffinthesuitcase,forourattention.

nessofnightinacitystreet,withlightedwin-Hesaid:“Thisisalsoaneutralizer,butdowsandstreetlamps,areyou?Afterall,ofadifferenttype—Iwon’tbecometechnicalwitnessessayablackthingpursuedpooraboutthisoneeither.Let’ssaythatitmerelyAlbert.Byyourownwords,therecouldn’tbecreatesa

Let’ssaythatitmerelyAlbert.Byyourownwords,therecouldn’tbecreatesahigh-frequencyfieldwhichblocksablackthingunlesstherewasnight.Howdocertaincathodefunctionsintheothertrans-youaccountforthat?”

mitter,withviolentresults.Anyquestions?”

Savageturnedtome.“Sammy,whatMcGraffputouthisjawandsaid:“YoudidIdowithyouafterItookyououtofthesayyou’renotbeingtechnical,butitsoundshotel?”

damnedcomplicatedtome.Ifyouturnon“Afterthesetwolugswerescaredoffthiscontraptionhere—whatwillhappenex-beforetheycouldknockmeoff,youtookmeactly?”

downstairsandwetalkedinyourcar,”Isaid.

“Icoulddemonstrate,”Savagesaid.

McCutcheonyelled:“Yousillyfool!Do“Dothat.”

youimplyyourlifewasindangerfromuslast“Holdyourhat,”Savagesaid.Henight?”

closedaswitchandnothingmuchhappened“Iknowdamnwellitwas!”Iyelledbackexceptsometubeslightedup;thenclosedaathim.

secondswitch,andtheotherendoftheroomSavagemadesmoothing-downmo-cameapartinflashandnoise.

tionswithhishandsandsaid:“Let’sskippersonalities—wecangainnothingbybecomingahousedivided....ThepointisthatSammyITwasalittletoolatetohitthefloor,satinthecaronthestreetandtalkedtome.

butIhititanyway.TheMacswerethereIsn’tthatright,Sammy?”

aheadofme.Theirspeedingettingthere“That’sright.ButIdon’tlikethisguygavemeafactfromtheirpasthistory—theycallingmeafool—”

hadoncebeeninawarsomewhere.Aone“DidyouseeAlbertGrossimmedi-hundredpercent

civilian

civilian

background

ately?”Savageasked.

wouldn’tproducethatkindofreaction.

“Seehim?No,notrightaway.”

Theplasticshieldscameinhandy,be-

“Whynot?”

causealittleglassreachedus,fragments“Itwasasidestreet,kindofdark.

thatbuzzedlikemosquitoesastheytraveled.

Prettydarndark,infact.”

Andtheroomsuddenlyhadthesmellofan“You’resureitwasratherdark?”

electricalpower-houseinathunderstorm.

“Ioughttoknow,”Isaid.“Icouldhardly“Jove!Thetransmitterblewup,”HammakeGrossoutevenafteryoupointedatBrookssaid,soundingaboutasstartledasahim,andIdidn’trecognizehimuntilweweresenatorwhohaddroppedhisbriefcase.

rightbesidehim.”

40

DOCSAVAGE

Monkgaveitmore.Heyelled:“Hey,adoor-to-doorsalesmanfortwoyears,fore-yougottagadgetthat’lldestroythetransmit-maninachemicalplantuntiltheplantwentter!”

bust—twoyearsandonemonth,thatwas—TheMacsgotupfromthefloorwithandfortheremainingfivemonths,themostsheepishlooksand—butthiswentawayrecent,hehadplayedthestockmarketataquickly—aboutthesamesurprisetheywouldprofit.

havehadiftheyhadbeenshotat.WhentheMcCutcheon’slifehadbeensimpler.

surpriseleft,cupiditytookitsplace.TheyHe’dmadealivingoffthestockmarketalllookedatthegimmickinthesuitcase.Lovingfiveyears.

looks.Ididn’tunderstandwhytheyshouldbeThetwoMacshadmetinabroker’sof-soaffectionate.

ficeonedaywhentheybothhadastockthatSavageswitchedthedeviceoff.

shotuptenpoints,andhavingthisincom-McGraffsaid,“Youmeanthatthingwillmonhadledtofriendship.

blowuphistransmitter?”

SavagemadenocommentabouttheseIwaitedforthingstopickup.McGraffprofessionsbeinghardonestocheckon.Buthadsaidhis.Hehadprofessednottoknowhedidpasstheinformationalongtothepo-anythinglikethat....ButSavagesaidnoth-lice,andlettheMacshearhimdoingit.

ing,andtherewasaweightonmytoe,aboutHecouldbescaringthem.

ing,andtherewasaweightonmytoe,aboutHecouldbescaringthem.

halfaton,asMonkMayfairputhisfootthere.

MissFenisong’sattitudehadunder-ApparentlyIwassupposedtobesilent.

goneachangeIdidn’tlike.ShehadgrownSavage,replyingtoMcGraff,said,“Youcoldtowardus,andfriendlyinawe-know-sawwhathappened.”

something-that-you-don’twaywiththeMacs.

“Youknewitwould?”

Iwasnotallowedmuchtimetoworryabout“Certainly.”

this,however.Things,whichhadbeenslow,“Howfarwillthethingdothat?Ibeganpickingup.

mean—howclosetotheothergadgetwouldMonkandHamlefttolearnwhetheryouhavetobe?”

therewasadelicatessenintheneighborhood

“Possiblyagreaterrangethantwothatwouldprovideenoughforourdinners.

hundredfeetwouldnotbeeffective,”SavageFiveminuteslater,thetelephonerang,said.“Bytheway,IdemonstratedthethingSavageansweredit,andsaid,“Yes,Isup-soyouwillunderstandthatwenowhaveaposeIcancomedown.”Hehungupandtoldweapon.IncaseanyofyoushouldneedtoMissFenisong,theMacsandmyself:“Theusethething,I’llshowyouhowtoturniton.”

policehavesomethingtheywanttodiscuss..

..Sammy,willyoutakeanyphonecallsandlookafterthings.I’llbeback,probably,inhalfChapterIX

anhouroratrifleover.”

“Sure,”Iagreed.“Youthinkwe’reinBYsixo’clockthepolicehadn’tfoundanydanger?”

Spatny.Theoldgianthaddisappeared—

“It’squitepossible,”hesaid.“ThatispersonallyIhadbeenthinkingmaybethewhyIhaveinsistedonstickingaroundhereblackscare-babyhadcarriedhimawayorallday.”HefrownedattheMacsandadded,digestedhimordisintegratedhimorsome-

“Youtwowillstayhere,youunderstand.Ithing,butiftherewasanyfactinSavage’sbelievethismatterthepolicewishtodiscussshowwiththecontraption,Spatny’sfatehadconcernsyou—possiblythefacttheycan’tprobablybeenmorenormal.Ididn’tknowseemtocorroborateyourversionofyourhowmuchfacttherehadbeeninSavage’swhereaboutsforthepastfiveyears.”

show.Possiblynottoomuch.

“I’llholdthefort,”Isaid.

NorhadthepolicedugupanythingonSavagewentout,gotintheelevator,McGraffandMcCutcheon—anythingtheandIreturnedtothereceptionroom—whichMacsliked,atleast.Thecopshadlearnedsoliveduptoitsname.Theyhadthereceptionremarkablylittlethattheywerebeginningtoallreadyforme.

wonder;theywantedadetailedaccountofItwasshort,butnotsweet.Theroom—thelivesofbothMacsforthelastfiveyears.

everything—turnedthecolorofnothingatall.

Savagesaidhewouldgetitforthem.

IreadsomewhereoncethatanastronomerMcGraffsaidhehadbeen,beginningsaidthatifyoucouldgettoaplacewherefiveyearsago,atruckdriverforsixmonths,therewasnothing—nomatter,lifenorsoul—

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

41whatyouwouldseewouldbeblacknessbuildingblock.Ikickedthethingautomati-blackerthanacharcoalfactory.Herewascally,soprobablyIwasn’tgoingtodieaftersuch.Maybetherewereaccompanyingphe-all.

nomena,butIwasn’tawareofthem.

Presentlyweweregoingsomeplaceinthecarwiththethickglass.Savageandmyself.

INavoicemuchtoounconcerned,“WhereareHamBrooksandMonkSavagewassaying,“YouobviouslyhavenoMayfair—notthatIcan’tdowithoutthelat-cardiacdecomposition,soanextraheavyter?”

doseofaspirinwon’thurtyou.Andthehead“TrailingtheMacsandMissFenisong.”

willappreciateit.”

“Yeah,butwhere?”

Iheardmyselfaskingsomething.It“We’llknowsoon.”

was:“WhereamI?”PresentlyitseemedanHeturnedontheradiointhecar,saidextraordinarilystupidremark,evenforme.

intothemicrophone:“Monk?”

Hesaid:“Alive.Fortunately.”

“Yeah?”wasthehomelychemist’sre-

“Wanttobetonit?”Myeyeswereoldsponsefromtheloudspeaker.“Youwanttorocks,myskinwasusedsandpaperandmyknowwheretheyare?TaketheTri-Boroughtonguewasatiredgopher.ImovedmyheadBridge,thenkeepontheparkway.I’maboutatrifle,enoughtocauseittocomelooseandhalfamilebehindthem,I’djudge.”

rollacrossthefloorandIupthewall.There“Don’tgetanycloserthanthat.”

wasapictureofDocSavage’sfather—he“Roger.”

didn’tlooktoomuchlikeDoc—onthewall,Savagesaid:“Ham?”

andmyheadcircledthatacoupleoftimesHamsvoicesaid:“I’montheparkwaybeforeitcameback.Ididn’tlikethereturnedaboutthemiddleoftheisland,incasetheyhead;itsurelycouldn’tbemine.

turnsouth.Thisway,I’mabletogetacross-

“Noticewhichonehityou?”

bearing.Okay?”

“WasIhit?”

“Okay,”Savagesaid.

“Apparently.”

“Whatwith?Atruck?”

“Dictionary.Holdstill.”Hedidsome-THEnighthadsettleddowndarkly,andthingtomyskullwithhisfingers,asked,therewassomerain,thinstuffthatfell“Doesthathurt?”

throughtheheadlightbeamslikedyinggnats.

“Damn!Yes!”Iyelled.

Therewerenopoolsofwateronthepave-

“You’reinfineshape,”hesaid.“Oneofmentyet,onlyacontinuouswetsteamingtheMacsstruckyoudown—Idoubtthatitsoundfromthemicrophone—itwasattachedwasMissFenisong—andtheyhavegone.

toareelthatwithdrewthecordfromsight.

TheytookthegadgetIdemonstratedear-Heglancedatthespeedometerneedle.Itlier—thethingIcalledaneutralizer,theonewasswayingaroundsixty,astroubledasainthesuitcase.Yougetthat?McGraff,politician’sconscience.

McCutcheonandMissFenisonghavede-Isaid:“Soyousetabasketforthem,parted,takingthedevice.Thishappenedallandtheyfellintoit.”

offortyminutesago,probably.Sowe’dbetter“Somethinglikethat,”Savageadmit-befollowingthem.Comeon.”

ted.

“Ican’twalk,”Isaid,statingwhat“YousentMonkandHamout—butnotseemedtobeaconclusivefact.“I’llcometotoscareupsomefood.Yougotyourselfpieces.Iwon’tbeabletogetwithinfiftyfeetout—thephonecallwasfromMonkorHamofmyhead.”

insteadofacop.Isthatgoodguessing?”

Heshrugged,beganputtingsomeHenodded.“Itgoesbackfartherthangadgetsinadittybag,andpreparingtothat.”

leave.Itcametomethatthingsweremoving,“Howfar?”

thatthismightbethehomestretch,andit“Thismorning,”hesaid.“Whydoyouwasnottoohardformetostandupandthinkwestayedinonespotallday?Itwastomoveafterall—aslongastherewassome-getMcGraffandMcCutcheonimpatient.Ifthingforbothhandstohangto.

anythingwouldmakethemnervous,beingThedictionarytheyhadusedonmelayexposedtousalldaywoulddoit.”

thereonthefloor,asthickasaconcrete42

DOCSAVAGE

“That’strue.Icouldseetheirhairget“Howdoyoureasonthatway?”

gray.”

gray.”

“Theytookthegadgetinthesuitcase.”

Henoddedagain.“Itwasencouraging“Theytook—that’sright,yousaidtheytowatchthemgrowacropofnerves.Any-did....ButIdon’tsee—ormaybeIdo.Youway,wedecidedtotrythis.”

meanthattheyfigurethatwiththegadgetto“We?”

use,theycancleanuponthefellowwho“Monk,Hamandmyself.”

makesmoonlight?”

“SoI’manorphan?”

“Yes,”hesaid.“Butthere’smorethanHedidn’tsaywhatIwas,becauseaonefellow,Isuspect.”

policeprowlcameupbesideusasslylyasa“Didyoushowthemthegadgetsotheyschoolgirl,andcutlooseahowlfromitssi-wouldgetthenotionofborrowingit?”

ren.Ared-facedcopstuckouthismouthand“Yes.”

demandedwhereinhellandthreeblanksdid“Forcryingoutloud!”

weimaginetheconflagrationwas?SavageWehadcrossedalongbridgenow,rolleddowntheinch-thickwindowandsaid:andwererunningthroughheavierrainpast“Goodevening,Morneci—thosenewser-nakedtreesandwetshinyscabsofsnowbygeant’sstripeslookniceonyou.”

theroadside.TheradiospokeMonk’svoice;OfficerMornecisaid:“Thehell!”Thenittoldustomaketherightturnandgopastheasked:“DoyouwantustorunaheadoftheoldCenturyofProgressfairgrounds.

you,Mr.Savage?”

Monksaiditwasrainingharderwherehe“Thanks,no,Morneci.Anddon’tsaywas.

anythingontheradioaboutseeingme.TheSavagetoldme:

“McGraffand

peoplewe’rehavingsometroublewithareaMcCutcheonhadtobeencouragedtostrikescientificsort—theyjustmightkeeparadiooutontheirown.”

tunedinonthepolicefrequency.”

“Sotheywouldleadyouto—ImaynotTheprowlcarletitselfgetswallowedinpronouncethisright—Mr.Chromosphericthenightbehind.

Eruptions?”

“That’sright.”

Oneofthoseinvolvedparkwaycross-ITHOUGHTaboutthething.Ipickedoversappearedinfrontofus,anarrange-outthepointsthatpuzzledme.Therewerementofoverpassesandturn-offsintendedtoenoughofthesetomakethemeasytofind,simplifythingsforthemotorist,butlookingbutIfishedoutonethatwasparticularlybaf-aboutasuninvolvedassixgraysnakesinafling.

wrestlingmatch.Wemadethecorrectturns“Mindtellingmehowyouknewthewithnoslackeningofspeed.

MacsandMissFenisongwouldmakea“Youmeanthethinghadyousobreakifgiventhechance?”

stumpedyouhadtopullsomethinglikethis?”

“Didn’tyouthinktheywerescared?”

Iasked.

Savageasked.

“That’saboutit.”

“Sure,butwhatmadethatanovelty?I“Whynotjusttrythatliedetectorthingwasscaredtoo,andsowereMonkandonthem?”

wasscaredtoo,andsowereMonkandonthem?”

Ham—evenoldDoctorHodges,thestron-

“Oh,that?It’saliedetector,notatruthtiumisotopist.Ithinkyouwere,too.”

extractor.Iwasalreadyfairlysuretheywere“Istillam,”hesaid.

lying,soitwouldn’thavehelpedusmuch,Thatcalledforatleastaninnershud-probably.”

der,andnowords.Ofcoursetheonlyman“I’mfullofquestions—doyoumindtell-whoisneverafraidistheonewithoutenoughingmehowyouknewtheywerelying?”

senseforit.Butitwasn’tcomfortingtohearaHeputthecararoundanothermotoristmanlikeSavagesayhewasafraid.

whowasdrivingblissfullyinthemiddleoftheHeadded:“I’mnotamind-reader.Itwin-laneparkway.

didn’tknowtheywouldmakeabreak.I“JustahunchIhad,”hesaid.

merelytriedoutthechancethattheywould—Theanswerwasnice.Hehadn’thadanditseemstheyhave.”

anymoretogoonthanIhad,andI’dfigured“Wherearetheygoing?”

theMacsforblack-facedprevaricators,too.It“Togetridofthepeoplethey’reafraidmademefeelthatIwasoneoftheboys.

of....Thatisaguess,mindyou.”

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

43“Sammy,youstayhere,”Savagesaid.

THEYdidittousonaroadthatran“MonkandIwillgetthelayoftheground,throughthetidalflats.Theroadwasaslonelybeforewestartdoingwhateverwecan.”

asacoyoteonahill.ItcrossedaricketyTheywentawayintothedarkness.

woodenbridgeandS-turneditsway,asslimyIstoodtherebythecar.Istoodinthewithrainasafishingwormandascrookedrain,soakedtotheskin,anddidn’tmind.

asone,throughamudflatthatwasfurredDidn’tmindatall.MissFenisongwasokay.

withbrushandwinter-deadgrass,andtheLovely-voicewasonourside—andthefunnywholethingwasbeingdelugedwiththerainthingwasthatImusthaveknownitallthefittodrownaduck.

time.Oh,IhadbeendisturbedabouttheTwohundredfeetbeyondthebridge,Macsworkingonher,sellingherthedarkMonkMayfairwassuddenlybesideus.ThestuffaboutSavage.ButnotasdisturbedasIroadhadastarvedcoatofgravelandhehadwouldhavebeenwithoutconfidence.Withoutpulledhiscar,acoupé,asfaroffitashethekindofconfidenceatwenty-year-marrieddaredwithoutgettingstuck.

husbandmustfeelatapartywhenhenoticesMonksaid:“They’vestoppedsome-somewolfmakingpassesathiswifeandwhereahead.Notoveraquarterofamile,Iknowsthefellowwillgetnowhere.That’srealshouldjudge.”Heworeagreenslickerandconfidence.

withhisbuildlookedlikethegreatcaricatureThepleasantthoughtswerewonderful.

ofafrogintherain.

TheymusthavepluggedmyearsandSavagesaid:“Let’sseehowitsounds,”

TheymusthavepluggedmyearsandSavagesaid:“Let’sseehowitsounds,”

blindedmyeyesandputsweetmudinmyandMonkhandedasmallcaseinthewin-head—becauseMcCutcheonhadagunindow.ThecasehadabouttheproportionsofamybackbeforeIknewhewasthere.

two-dollarnovel,buttherewereknobsonit,“Nojump,noholler,”thetallMacsaid.

acompasswithaluminousdial,anditwas“You’lllivelonger—justalittlebitlonger.”Themakingahigh-pitched—butnotloud—seriesedgeonhiswordscouldhavebeenputthereofwhiningnotes.ThecodeletterTrepeatedwithafile.

overandover.Aportableradioreceiver,ob-Hesearchedme,butfoundnothingheviouslyaspecialjobwithabuilt-indirectionalwanted.

loop.

“We’lltakeawalkbackthewayyouHavingputthethingtohisearandfid-came,”hesaid.

dledwiththevolumecontrolawhile,Savage“Youwon’tgetawaywiththis,”Isaid.

said:“Yes,notoverhalfamileanyway.”He“Neitherwillyou.”

rotatedthething,gotanull—thesignalatitsWesloppedthroughthestreamingleastaudiblepoint—andgestured.“Thatnight.Thewetnesssoftenedthesolesofmyway.”

shoesandthegravelhurtmyfeetthroughIwasalittleslow,butIgotit.“Thehell.

theflaccidleather.OnetroublewithcheapYou’vegotaradiotransmitterplantedonshoes.Thenthebridgewasbeingbumpedthem!Howdidyoudothat?”

hollowlybyourfeet.

“Therewasnothingtoit,”Monksaid.

Attheotherendofthebridge,Hewaswet,anxiousandimpatient.“Let’sgetMcCutcheongavemeanextrahardgougegoing.”

withthegunmuzzleandsaid:“I’mnotbadon“Look,handsome,howdidyouplantarunningtargets,Sammy.”Heseemedtoradioonthem?”Idemanded.

meanformetostandstill,andIdid.

“WehadMissFenisong’shelp,”Sav-McCutcheongotdownatacornerofagesaid.

thebridge.Heflounderedaroundinthemud

“Huh?”

andwetgrass,liftedaraincoatcarefully,andImusthavesoundedlikeZachariahthrusthisarmbeneathit.HiscigarettelightwhenhesawtheAngel,becauseMonkMay-flickered,theflameclosetoagraycordthatfairfeltsorryforme.“You’reprettydumb,lookedasifithadbeensoiledwithtar.Aaren’tyou?Youdidn’tthinkMissFenisongfuse.Thefusecaughtfire.Itspilledsparkshadreallythrowninwiththem,didyou?”

andalittletwistingsmoke.

“Ofcoursenot!”Isaid.AndoddlyHerejoinedme.“Nowwemoveon,”heenough,thatwaswholetruth.

said.

Iasked:“How’dyouknowwewerefollowingyou?”

44

DOCSAVAGE

“WefoundthelittleradioinMissFeni-knowwhatitwas.“MissFenisong!”Iyelled.

song’spurse,”hesaid,andtherecouldhave“Paula!Whathavethey—areyouallright?”

beenacidinhismouth.

Shescaredmestiffbynotanswering.

“Issheallright?”Iaskedaroundthe“Paula!”

rocksinmythroat.

Shestirredalittlethen.Therewas“Whatdoyouthink?”

cloth,notcleaneither,tiedoverthelowerpartofherfaceforagag.Itriedtotearitloose,butMcCutcheonleanedoverandChapterX

struckmyhandwithhisgun,hurtingmyfingersandnotcaringmuchwhetherhebangedTHEbridgewentup.Itmadeasatis-upPaula’sface.

factory—toMcCutcheon—whoopofasound“Youdon’tseemtorealize,”

intheleakingnight.JudgingfromthejumpMcCutcheonsaid,“thatyou’renotlongforthegroundgave,andtheflash,therehadthisworld—lessifyoukeepitupthewaybeenenoughdynamiteunderthebridgetoyou’regoing.”

ruinit.Itseemedtorainharderforamoment“Bothofus?”

afterthat.

afterthat.

“Bothofyou,”hesaid.

Thesecondexplosioncamequickly.

Thecar,asedan,wastravelinghead-Thirtysecondslater,perhaps.Itwasatleastlongthroughthenight,butnotsoheadlonghalfamiledistant.

thatitwaslikelytosomersaultofftheroad.

“Anotherbridge?”Iasked.

Andwhentheycametoaparkwaywhere“Theonlyotherone,”McCutcheontherewasothertraffic,theydroveasdeco-said.“Thatroadrunsacrossastinkinglittlerouslyasanybody,butjustabitfaster.

swampisland.Themudisneckdeepjust“Wheredidyougetthedynamite?”Iabouteverywherebutontheisland.”

asked.

“Savagecanswim,probably.”

McCutcheonsaid,“Wehadbeenfigur-

“Uh-huh.Andfindahouse,ifheknowsingonanicebombingforaguyweknow.

wheretolook.ThenearestoneisaboutaYouknowhimtoo.Anyway,itwasinthecar.

mile....Butthatwilltaketime.Anhour,There’sevensomeleft.”

maybe.Sayit’sonlyhalfanhour—thatwillMcGraffsaid,“What’stheideatellinggetuswherewe’regoing.”

himthat?”

Itseemedthattherewasanotherroad,“Payattentiontoyourdriving,”thetallbetter-pavedthantheonewewereon,thatMacsaid.

cutbacktothisone.Presentlytheircarcame“You’regoingtokillus?”

alongthatroad,movingfast,andstopped“Probably.”

whenitsheadlightssplasheduponus.

“Why?...Becausewe’refriendsofShortMaclookedoutatmeandsaidtoSavage?ThatwilljustupsethimalittletallMac,“Whydidn’tyoushoothimandgetitmore.”

overwith?”

McCutcheonshrugged.“Don’tgiveus“Ithinkhe’soneofFleur’sboys,”

that.You’reworkingforFleur,”

McCutcheonsaid.

“Bothofus?Thegirl,too?”

“That’swhatImean.”

“Couldbe.”

“Hemightbeuseful.”

“Who’sFleur?”Iasked.

Theshortoneshrugged.“Allright.He’s“Hah,hah,”McCutcheonsaid.

yourresponsibility,though.”Hewasdis-pleasedaboutitand,asIclimbedintothecar,heswungsomekindofshortblowtomyAPPARENTLYthedoingsweretobeneckthatsentmeheadfirstintothemachine,heldbackintown.McGraffdrewthecartowithmyheadfulloffireworks.Moreofhisthecurbonasidestreetinwhatwasclearlyjudo.Bythetimethingssettleddown,thebetterpartoftown.Heturned,swunghisMcCutcheonwasinthebackseatwithme,handovertheseatbacktoshowmeitcon-hadhisguninmyeyeandthecarwasmov-tainedoneofthebiggestgunsevertogoing.

unmountedonwheels,andmadeaspeechTherewassomethingsoftagainstmycutoutofrawflesh.Hesaid:“AlbertGrossleftside,andonlyonetouchwasneededtowasourfriendinawayyouwillnotunderstandunlessyouhave

neededtowasourfriendinawayyouwillnotunderstandunlessyouhaveriskedyourlifeforaNOLIGHTTODIEBY

45manandhadthemandothesameforyou—LongMachadakeytotheapartmentnotonce,butmanytimes.Unlessyouhavehousefrontdoor.Onehe’dgiventhejanitorgonethroughhellandsufferingwiththattendollarsfor,hesaid.

man,unlessyou’vesharedtroublesbeyondwordswithhim.AlbertGrossisdead.Fleurkilledhim.YouworkforFleur—”

THEYhadbeentherebefore.They“Idon’tevenknowFleur!”Isaid.

knewtherewouldbenodoormanandno“WorkingforFleuristheonlythingthattelephoneoperatorinthelobby,andtheywouldexplainyourinvolvementintheaffair,”

knewenoughnottofoolaroundwiththeboyhesaid.“ThepointIammaking,Mr.Sammywhorantheelevator.Ahungry-lookingboy,Wales,ifthatisyourname,isthatwewillgothisone;hisuniformfittedhimlikesomethingthewholewaytogetjusticeforAlbert.Thatthathadbeenblownonhimbyahighwind.

meansFleurwillprobablydie,andyou,andHecarriedhisheadonathinneck,asifitMissFenisong.Thereisjustachance,averywassomethingonastick.Hecouldmove.

longchance,thatwecandealwithFleur.OnFast.Butnotfastenough.McGraffdownedthatchanceswingsyourneck.Getme?Inhim,andtooktheguntheboyhadhalf-otherwords,actupandI’llkillyou,ordrawn.

McCutcheonwillkillyou.Clear?”

Therewassomethingfamiliarabout“Ineverheardanythingputclearer.”

theboyafterhelayontheflooratmyfeet.It“Okay,getoutandwalkaheadofustookabitofrecalling.Butitcametome.Thisintothatapartmenthouse.No,taketheragladhadbeenoneofthehelpatthebanquetoffthegirl’sfacefirst.Andwalkwithher,thescientistsheldintheParkside-Regent.

aheadofus.”

Hehadn’tbeenoutservingtablesamongtheTheclothcamefreeofPaula’sfaceguests;hehadkeptintherear,helpinggetreadilyenough.Shedidn’tsayanything.Shethestuffonthetraysreadytoserve.

rubbed,orscrubbed,athermouthwithaIsaid:“Hewasatthebanquet!”

sleeve.

McGrafffrownedatme.“Nodoubt.”

“We’resupposedtoleadtheway,you“That’sprobablyhowtheygotalineonandI,”Isaid.

youfellows,”Isaid.

Shestilldidn’tsayanything.

“Nodoubt,”McGraffsaidagain.

McGraffgotthebigsuitcasecontainingMcCutcheonsaidnothing;hewashav-thegadget.Ithadbeeninthecartrunk.

inghistroublesmakingtheelevatorrun.He’dAlong,probably,withthedynamiteleftovergotthedoorsshut,butcouldn’ttakethecagefromfixingthetwolittlebridges.Wonderupbecausehedidn’tknowwherethesafetywhereSavagewas?Wastingtimeoutthereswitchwas.

intherainlookingforthefoe?Itwould“Iusedtorunanelevator.”

probablylooklikeatraptohim.

Hedidn’tseemtohearme.Helooked“Paula,”Isaid.“Didyouhavearadiodownatthelong-neckedboy.“Youmur-outfitinyourpurseandhowdidtheyfindit?”

derer!”hesaid,andkickedtheboy’sjaw“Theyjustlookedinthepurse,”shesomewhatoutofshape.“Okay,runit,”hesaid.

saidtome.

“Paula—don’tdoanythingreckless.”

“Whatfloor?”

Shenodded.“Youtoo.”

Heseemedtoseriouslyconsiderkick-Twowords—buttherewasenoughiningmyjaw.“Asfarasitwillgo—asifyouthemtomeanalot.Maybefrighthadmadedidn’tknow,”hesaid.

myreceptivenesshigh,butitseemedthatshewasalotconcernedforme.Thatwasgood.Everythingelsecouldn’tgetmuchASfarasitwouldgowasthetwenty-worse,butthatwasgood.Whyhadn’tImetsecondfloor,andtheMacsgotprogressivelyheratapicnicinSwopePark,andwecouldpalerastheelevatorwentup.Exceptforthehavelookedattheanimalsinthezooandonewhohadthenaturalrednessinhisface,watchedthenutsontheplaygroundflyingtheycouldhavepassedforcorpseswhenwetheirlittleairplanesaroundontheendsofreachedthetop.“He’llhaveasignal,”

wires.Agoodthingwehadn’t,nodoubt.

McGraffsaid,staringbitterlyattheboyonWithoutseeingmefrightenedstiff,shethefloor.“WeshouldhaveaskedAugustinowouldn’thaveknownofmysterlingqualities.

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whatitwas.”Heshrugged,added,“Oh,well,wasnotmuchtimetoadmirethedecora-ifyou’regoingtocracktheegg.”

tions.

HepickedupAugustinoandusedtheItwastheoldgiantthistime.Spatny.

limpbodyasashieldinfrontofhisownasHecameinwearingacandy-stripeddressinghesteppedout.McCutcheonusedashieldrobeandcarpetslipperslinedwithyellowfur.

also—MissFenisongandmyself,whichTherobewasyellowandcream.HelookedturnedmeaspaleaseitherMac.

big,gaunt,aframeforaskyscraperbeforeIknewwewereinapenthouse.Theytheybuildupthebrick.

hadthoseinKansasCity.Wewereinare-

“Goodevening,Fleur,”McGraffsaidtoceptionroomwithafloortiledinshadesofhim.“Getyourhandsup.”

browns,cinnamonwallsstripedinalligatorTheoldmansmiled.Itcouldn’thavegreen—thesamecinnamon-and-greenstrip-beenasmile.Hesteppedbackthewayheingwascarriedoutinsuchofthefurnitureashadcome.Likeaflashoflightning,hevan-wasnotglassorplastic.Awildmodernismished....He’dhadholdofmethenightbe-savedthebrown-and-greenthemefrombeforewhenwefoundhimatthegatehouseofingawful,ormadeitworsethanawful,ac-theplaceonLongIsland,andIknewhewascordingtoyourtaste.Theplacehadenoughstrong.Buthewasquicktoo,quickerthanroomtoswingacat,evenwiththecatonthewaspossible.Hewasthere—thenwasn’t.

withthecatonthewaspossible.Hewasthere—thenwasn’t.

endofalongrope.

Gone.

AmancamethroughadoorandThedoorhehadretreatedthroughspoiledourchancesofenjoyingthedecora-slammedashadebeforeMcGraffgotthere.

tivemotif.I’dseenthismanbefore,too.He’dwalkedthroughtheParkside-RegentlobbyseveraltimeswhileI’dbeenwaitingthereMcGRAFFthwarted,wantedtoshootyesterdayafternoon.Hewasalargeman,somebody—foracoupleofice-coatedsec-hardthewayafistishardinaglove.

ondshehadmeinmind.Butthatpassed.He“Augustino!”heexclaimed.Hegotthatbowedhishead,tookhisupperlipbetweenmuchoutbeforeherecognizedtheMacs.Hehisteeth,releasedittoask,“Whydidn’tIdidn’tlikerecognizingthem—hejerkedtoashoothim?”

stop,wheeled,andhisfeetwhettedtheshin-Westoodthere.Spatnywasalive,andingshadesofbrownfloordesperately.HisSpatnywasalsonamedFleur.Somehowitfeetdidn’tgettraction.Hefelldown.

hadn’toccurredtomethatSpatnywasalive,McCutcheonwentforward,wasuponandforsomereasonorotheritdidn’tseemtheman,hadkickedhiminface,temple,atallextraordinarynowthathewas.

backofneckandstomach,inverylittletime.

Inavoicethatwasclear,surprised—IgotholdofMissFenisong,startedherandof

all

things,

slightly

reverent—

backfortheelevator.ShehadthesameideaMcCutcheonsaid,“Countess!”

backfortheelevator.ShehadthesameideaMcCutcheonsaid,“Countess!”

anyway.Itook,Ithink,twosteps—andstoodAlittleoldladyhadappeared.Shewasstonystill.Therehadbeenaclickofasoundasthinasastring,notmuchtallerthansomelikeaneedlebreaking.Iputoutahandandofthefurniture,andlookedexcessivelyevil.

stoppedthegirl.

Shehadonablacklacegown—nightgown—“Good,”saidMcGraff.Helookedatus,sheerasimagination,andawoollywhitefureyesfartoobright,overthegunIhadjustwrapthrownabouthershoulders.Herheardhimcock.Headded,“Youwillwalkincheekswerepainted,herfingernailsandheraheadofus.”

toenails.Shecouldhavebeeneighty,andIasked,“Howmanymorearethey?”

sheworemorecosmeticsthanaTwelfth-

“Two....Walk!”

Streethustler.

Thenextroomwascream,cream“Soyougothere,”shesaid.

walls,creamrug,andthesmallthings—TheMacssaidnothing.Theyweredrapes,pipingonthefurniture—werebutterafraidofher.

yellow.Therewasmoreglassandplastic“Whereispoppa?”sheasked.

thaninthehall,butnochrome.Alargeyel-McGraffpointedatthedoor.Hedidn’tlow-flamedfireburnedinafireplacethatdidspeak.

notlooklikeafireplaceatall,butratherlikea“Thelaboratory,”shesaid.Sheplacetostorethesilverware.Andagaintheresoundedsatisfied.“Thatisgood.Iwasafraidforpoppa.”

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

47McGraffcametovoice.Heputhisface“Yes.”

closetothedoor,thelaboratorydoor,andTheoldgiantsnorted.“Youfoolswouldbellowed,“Fleur—youturnthatmachineon,betterhavedonethatinthefirstplace.Whenandit’llbetheendofyou,youhear?”AndIfirstapproachedyouforcapital,itwasafairthenwithoutwaitingforaresponse,hedeal.”

shouted,“Savagehasathingthatwillmake“Itwasastinkingdeal—twentyperyourtransmitterexplode.Wehaveithere.

cent,”McGraffsaid.“Wewanthalf.”

Youunderstandme?Youturnthatthingon,“Preposterous!”

andwewillturnthisoneon,anditwillblowMcGraff’svoicewascold.“Albertyoutohell.”

Gross,ourfriend,isdead.Ithinkyouunder-Theoldgiant’svoice,comingthroughstandhowcloseweweretoAlbertandhetothedoor,wasasbigasifithadbeenintheus.Afriend’slifewedonotsellcheaply.”

roomwithus.

McCutcheonsaid:“AugustinokilledAl-

“Ridiculous!”hethundered.

bert.ItwasAugustino’swayofkilling.SoweMcGraffmadefranticgesturestowantAugustinotoo.”

McCutcheon.AndMcCutcheonhastilyputSpatny—orFleur—grunted.“AugustinothebigsuitcasewithDocSavage’sgadgetinwaswithmeinMunich,theninGriefswalditonthetable.Hefooledwiththeknobs,andPeenemunde.Hehelpedmegetoutbrowwrinkled,doingitjustasSavagehadwhenthePartybecamesuspiciousofme—saiditshouldbedone.

whentheydiscoveredIwasholdingbacktheThelittleoldhagwatchedthis.She

whentheydiscoveredIwasholdingbacktheThelittleoldhagwatchedthis.Shebetterpartofmydiscoveriesinchromos-madeuphermindinahurry.Shewentoverphericactivities.WithoutAugustino,Iwouldtothedoor,called:“Poppa,they’renotfool-notbehere....Still,Albertwasasmuchtoing.”

youasAugustinoistome—”

Theoldgiantsworeagreatoath.It“No,poppa!”theoldwomansaidwasinGerman,alanguageIspeakfluentlysharply.ShewheeledontheMacs.“Au-totheextentofsixwords—butithadtobeangustinowewillnotsacrifice.Wearetoofewoath.

todestroyeachother.”

“Theremustbepeace,poppa,”sheThatbroughtsilenceforawhile.Iwassaid.ShewheeledontheMacs.“Youaregettingitstraightnow.Theoldpileofbonesfools,allofyou.Greedyfools,steepedinthehadbeenaNaziscientist,andhehadkeptbloodypast.Don’tyourealizetheworldhashisdiscoveriesforhimself,fledGermanywithchangedagainstyouandthatyouarenowthem.HemusthavebeenatypicalNazi.Hefightingamongyourselveslikecurdogs?”

hadrunoutofmoneyhereinAmerica—theMcGraffpulledinadeepbreath.“Tellrichnessofhisdiggingshereindicatedthathimtocomeout.We’lltalkterms.”

hecouldrunoutofmoneyrathereasily.He“Whydoyousaythat?”shedemandedhadapproachedthreeoldfriends,McGraff,suspiciously.

McCutcheon,andAlbertGross,forfinancing.

“I’vespentthedaywithSavage,andITheresultwasnotunexpected—they’dgottoknowmoreabouthimthanIdid,”McGrafffightingoverthegadgettheoldmanhad,andsaid.“That’swhy.”

he’dbeenwinning.TheMacsandGrosshadShestoodclosetothedoorandsaid,runDocSavageintothepicture,nodoubtto“Poppa,theyhavetakenabearbythetailfrightentheoldgiantintocomingtoterms.

andtheanimalwillconsumeyouallifyoudoButhe’dstartedkillingthem,beginningwithnotbefriendswitheachother.”PresumablyGross.

shemeantDocSavagewasbruin.

shemeantDocSavagewasbruin.

McGraffbrokethesilence.“Wewillsur-renderthepointofAugustino,”hesaidgrimly,“ifhecandisposeofDocSavage.”

THEoldmancameout.Ididn’tlikeit.

Spatnystiffened.Hecalledthemsev-Pauladidn’tlikeiteither,andshefastenedaeraldarkthingsinGerman.Thenhesaid:setoftremblingfingersonmyarm.

“WhydidyoupickamanlikeSavagetoSpatnyasked:“Youwillfurnishmefrightenmewith?Thereisnomoredanger-money?Itmustbeso.”

ousaman.”

McGrafflookedatMcCutcheon,who“Weunderestimatedhim,”McGraffsaid,“Yes.”

admittedbitterly.

“Muchmoney.Iamnotacheapman.”

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“Fools!ItwasassensibleasusingaonebehindhimwasMonkMayfair.Theybarrelofgasolinetoextinguishamatch.”

camequietly,butfullofpurpose.

Theyseemedtoagreewithhim.

Isaidloudly,“Well,besidesPaulaandSpatnylevelledanarmatme.

myself,there’sfourofusinhere.”ThenI

“Thisfellow!Youperhapsthoughthereachedforachair,gotit,andmadeforwasmine?Heisnot.HeismerelyanidiotMcGraff.

withalongnose”—heglancedatMissFeni-OldSpatnysaid,“Don’tshoothim.Wesong—”andaneyeforaprettygirl.”

mighthavetoexplainagunshot.”

“Augustinocanremovehim,”McGraffMcGraffeyedme.Hegrinned.Hiscon-said,dismissingmemorecasuallythanIfidencebubbledoutunderthelid.Hetossedlikedtobedismissed.

hisgunonthetable,cameatmewiththatTheoldwoman—shewasobviouslyjudocrouchthatIhadlearnedabout.

theoldgiant’swife,countessandall—

IthrewthechairattheshortMac.ItbroughtPaulaintoit.“Thisgirlmustbedis-seemedtopassthroughhim.Hejustposedofalso,”shesaid.

weaved,madeaspaceforthechairtosailTheyshrugged.Evidentlyitwastobethrough,andwasbackinpositionandstillAugustinoagain.

coming.

ThistimeIwasgoingtofighthimalittledifferent.Ifhegothishandsonme,IwasSPATNY—orFleur—hadleftthelabo-sunk,probably.Ithrewanashtrayathim.Aratorydooropen.Istartedthroughthedoorstool.Atablelamp.Hewasaselusiveastheintothelaboratorywiththekindoffixitythatafellowwithhisheadthroughacanvasatafrozenmandevotestowatchingthesnowcarnivalpitch-joint.

fall.Itseemedtobealaboratorythatspecial-Thismusthavehappenedfast,be-izedononething,anditcertainlylackedthecauseSavagewasn’tintheroomyet.ShortcompletenessofSavage’sequipment.Be-Machadmeinacorner.ItookaJoeLouisyondittherewasaterracegarden,withev-stancetofoolhim,andkickedinstead.Hisergreenstuffgrowingoutoftubsorboxes,stomachwasascompactasasackofsand,andbeyondthat,speckledwithamyriadofbuthewentdown.Hedidn’tstaydown.Helightedwindows,wasthebulkofthePark-gotmyarm,didoneofhistricksonit,andside-Regent.Thehotelwasnotmorethanaliquidfirewentupthearmandflewoutofmyblockdistant.Itdidn’ttakemuchaddingofearsandtoes.Ishookhimoff.

twoandtwotorealizethatherewaswhereSavagewasintheroomnow.AndthemoonlightmusthaveoriginatedthefirstMonkMayfair,andthelatterbeganyelling—time.Itwasconvenienttothehotel,whichtherewerenospecialwordstohisyelling,explainedwhytheyhadpickedthebanquetandheseemedtobedoingitmerelytoshowattheParkside-RegenttointroduceDochowhefelt.Apparentlyhelovedit.

Savagetotheaffair.

TherewasaScotchbottle,fifth-size,Ilookedfixedlyattheterraceandmyonasmalltable.Igotthebottlebytheneck,thinkingbegantofog.IwasawareofPaula,rappeditonthetable,andhadascaryandIknewtheyhaddecidedondeathforweapon.Exactly—itsuddenlydeveloped—her,andknewtheymeantit.TherewaswhatIneeded.McGraff’seyesgotwidewithsomethingascoldaboutthesepeopleasahorror.Hebackedawayfromme,andIquacksurgeon’sknife.Theywouldkillus,chasedhim.

knife.Theywouldkillus,chasedhim.

thatwassure,unlesssomeoneposedobjec-IwaschasinghimwhenIforgotnottotions....

breathethatanaestheticgasthatSavageTherewassomeoneontheterrace.

used.

Thisfact,onlyalittlelessimportantthantheSecondComing,didnotmeanmuch.NotuntilIthoughtitout.Let’ssee—oneoftheITOOKaswingatsomeone,missedMacshadleft.Theoldgiantandhiswitchhim—itwasHamBrooks,andhesaid,madetwo.Thatleft—nobody.Therewouldn’t“There’sbeenarecess.Takeiteasy.”

beanyoneontheterrace.

Isatdownagain.Ihadbeenuncon-Hewashalf-wayacrossthelaboratoryscious.Irememberedthetrickgas.IwasonbeforeIsawthatitwasSavage.Andanothertheterrace,andtheyhaddraggedoneofthe

NOLIGHTTODIEBY

49yellow-pipedchairsoutthereforme,andmy“HowlongwasIout?”

facewasnumbwithcold.

“Anhour,”HamBrookssaid.“Youhit“Whathappened?”

yourheadonsomethingwhenyoufell.”

HamBrooksgrinned.“Thecavalrygal-

“Butmyheaddoesn’tache!”

loped.Youfinallygotthecombinationon“Monksaiditwouldn’t,”hesaidandMcGraff,didn’tyou?Toobadyouhadtotakewalkedout.

adeepbreathofthegaswhenyoudid.”

“Uh-huh.Say,howdidyougethere?”

“Upanotherelevator.Backstairs.

PAULAFENISONGwasinthelabora-Throughakitchenandabutler’spantryandatory.Shecameoutquicklywhenshesawlockerroomandaservicepantry—youknow,me,andtookmyhandsandsaid,“I’msothisisquitealuxuriousplace—andontothegladyouweren’tseriouslyhurt.”

terrace.”

Herhandswerewarm.Inoddedatthe“Idon’tmeanthat.How’dyoufindthecomplaininginthelaboratoryandasked:apartmenthouse?”

“What’swronginthere?”

“Ithoughtyouknewabouttheradio“It’stechnicalandIdon’tunderstandit,”

“Ithoughtyouknewabouttheradio“It’stechnicalandIdon’tunderstandit,”

transmitterweplantedonthem.”

shesaid.“Buttheelderlyscientist,Doctor“InPaula’spurse?Buttheyfoundit.”

Hodges,claimsthatSpatny’sdeviceisonlya“Oh,thatone,”hesaid.“Thatonewasslightimprovementoverthedevelopmentsalittletwo-wayoutfitPaulawasgoingtousealreadyknowntohavebeenmade.Nothinginanemergency.Justinsurance.Theoneparticularlymagical.DoctorHodgesisdis-thatcountedwasinthesuitcase.”

gusted.Heexpectedagreatdealmore.He“Youmeanwiththeneutralizer?”

swearsterribly.”

Helaughed.“TheonlythingthatWestoodthere.Ikeptherhands.ShegadgetwouldneutralizewasMcGraffanddidn’tobject.Itwascoldandcleanouthere,McCutcheon.Itwasaphony.AllthatshowandthenightairhadanastringentbitethatDocputonatheadquarterswasphony,too.

wasgood.TherewereamillionlightsofthePartoftherig.”

cityaroundusandcarsmakingcontented“Oh.”ThenIasked:“Isthefracassoundsinthestreetbelow.

over?”

Ibentmyheadandthought,thought“Sure.”

aboutaguynamedSamuelWaleswhohad“Yougetallofthem?Theoldman,hiscomefromKansasCityhuntingsomething,shrew,McGraff,McCutcheon,andtwobutnotknowingwhathesought.HenowhadnamedAugustinoand—cometothinkofit,Iagoodideaofwhatitwas.Iputanarmdon’tknowtheotherone’sname.MadeofaroundPaulatoseehowitwouldbe,anditgoodsolidstuff,though.”

wasevenbetter.ThenIthoughtaboutwhatHamsaid:“Thepolicehavethemall.”

kissingherwouldbelike,andItriedit,andit“Thepoliceareherealready?”

kissingherwouldbelike,andItriedit,andit“Thepoliceareherealready?”

wasstillbetter.Itwasbetterthananything“Andgone.”

couldbe.

Ididn’tgetthat.ThenIsawtheoldOldScientistHodgeswasyellingthatitcodgerwhohadbeenbellwetheratthesci-wasablastedshameallthattroublehadnet-entists’banquet,oldDoctorMorandFunktedeveryonesolittle.

Hodges,whohadkickedthebanquetsecre-Hewaswrong.

tary’sstern,inthelaboratory.HewastalkingtoDocSavage.Hewouldsaysomething,takealookatacontraptiontheyweredis-THEEND

secting,thensaysomethingelse,andwavehisarms.Heseemeddiscouraged.

50

DOCSAVAGE

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